The return

“I Will Return to Ukraine” is the title of a program that will present opera lovers with a memorable encounter with the vocal mastery of Viktoria Lukianets, Volodymyr Kuzmenko, Olha Mykytenko, Valentyn Pyvovarov, and Marian Talaba. Today these celebrated Ukrainian singers perform on the most prestigious stages of many countries, and they rarely visit their homeland.

Their touring schedules are arranged for years in advance, but our countrymen have never forgotten Ukraine, where they were born, studied, and took their first steps toward success. Whenever they have a window of opportunity, they eagerly come home, where they have numerous admirers in Kyiv.

The concert program was designed by Oleksandr Bystrushkin, the former head of the Culture Department at the Kyiv City Administration, who managed to unite Ukrainian prima donnas and premier singers from various European theaters in a single concert last year. The audience enjoyed it so much that the organizers of this year’s concert decided to expand on the idea.

Anatolii Solovianenko is the stage director of the concert, assisted by set designer Maria Levytska. The Ukrainian stars will perform arias from operas and a chamber repertoire accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of the Philharmonic conducted by Mykola Diadiura. Artists of the National Opera will also take part in the concert: the chorus (conducted by Lev Venedyktov) and ballet soloists Olena Filipieva and Serhii Sydorsky will perform as soon as conductor Oleksii Baklan mounts the podium.

There are also surprises in store for the audience, so true music lovers should not miss this program. These Ukrainian stars are returning for one day only.