Ukrainian Bandura in France

It all started last year, during the Days of French Culture in Rivne oblast, organized by the French Embassy and the French Alliance (director Nadiya Chumak), starring the French virtuoso guitarist Michel Sadanowski who gave a solo concert at the Rivne Philharmonic Society. Later, he visited the city’s college of music. Among other things, he said he knew about the Ukrainian traditional instrument bandura but had never seen or heard one. The guest’s wish is the cordial host’s command. Instructor Myroslava Ocheretiana played the instrument, performing several songs. The French maestro was impressed so much he invited her to take part in an international festival-workshop in Biarritz, the famed French resort on the Bay of Biscay.

The festival included three gala concerts held at a church built with money from Napoleon III’s wife Eugenia, a noted philanthropist. Michel Sadanowski appeared in the first concert, the third one featured flamenco-style guitar duets, but the second concert turned out a very pleasant surprise for the French public and guests from neighboring Spain, hearing for the first time a Ukrainian bandura within the ancient church walls. Myroslava Ocheretiana had prepared a two-part program, the first composed of classic and the second of folk and modern compositions. The audience especially liked the folk songs, encoring the performer, eager to listen to her instrument again and again.