“World’s attitude to Ukraine has changed dramatically”

“What a great opportunity to mark the Independence Day of Ukraine! Someone once said that music expresses what cannot be said, but may not be kept silent either. This is a message of pure values, a roadmap to peace and stability in Ukraine,” were the US Ambassador to Sweden Mark Brzezinski’s opening words before the charity concert in support of Ukraine in Stockholm. It was on Ukraine’s Independence Day, August 24, that the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden was launched, created at the initiative of world famous Ukrainian pianist Natalia Pasichnyk and soloist of Warsaw Opera Olha Pasichnyk. Its goal is to promote our high culture abroad.

ROYAL THEATER: GUESTS AND PERFORMERS

“We start with music festivals, days of Ukrainian music. This concert is the first of its kind in the history of Ukraine, as it saw almost all the stars of the international classical music scene performing Ukrainian music. It has been a private initiative so far, and I very much hope that it will get state support. We plan an exhibition of Lviv photographs as our next event,” Natalia Pasichnyk told us, while her sister Olha added: “Our high culture is, unfortunately, unknown in the wider world. When my sister and I get offered a solo concert, we plan the program and always include Ukrainian music in it, at every show.”

“NEXT DEVELOPMENTS IN UKRAINE ARE NOW THE TOP CONCERN IN POLAND. MOST POLES UNDERSTAND THAT UKRAINE IS NOW FIGHTING FOR EUROPE,” OLHA PASICHNYK SAID

More than 200 people came to one of nine Royal Theaters of Stockholm, called Ulriksdals, to listen to the works by Mykola Lysenko, Viktor Kosenko, Myroslav Skoryk, Yakiv Stepovy, Kyrylo Stetsenko, Zenon Dashak, Yulii Meitus, Edvard Grieg, Ludwig van Beethoven and others. The guests included ambassadors and charges d’affaires of Ukraine, the US, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Georgia. The charity concert also counted the Princess Margaret, sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf, among its audience.

The performers were stars of the classic scene from Ukraine and Sweden, including Natalia and Olha Pasichnyk, one of the most respected Ukrainian cello players Lidia Futorska, famous Ukrainian harpist Alina Bzhezhinska, who lives and works in Scotland, leading Swedish clarinetist Emil Johansson, Swedish chamber musician Matti Hirvonen, Swedish cellist Jakob Koranyi and violinist Ellen Nisbeth...

BARITONE FROM SOUTH AFRICA LUTHANDO QAVE IMPRESSED THE GUESTS WITH HIS PERFORMING OF TARAS SHEVCHENKO’S IT IS NOT THE SAME TO ME TO MUSIC BY MYKOLA LYSENKO

“First I heard the music without understanding what the lyrics meant, and it impressed me. Later on, having read the lyrics, I realized that it was really congenial for me. I myself am from South Africa, but still feel a spiritual connection to this music. This is a very strong and special feeling. I understand that Ukrainian culture is very rich, and it has to be known better in the world. Everyone knows how kind and open Ukrainians are, and the world, of course, should know more of Ukraine,” baritone from South Africa Luthando Qave maintained, who impressed the guests with his performing of Taras Shevchenko’s It Is Not the Same to Me to music by Lysenko.

“UKRAINIAN CULTURE IS IN GREAT DEMAND IN SWEDEN”

“Unfortunately, the state does not    have sufficient funds to establish institutes of Ukrainian culture in Europe, but the embassy supports private initiatives in this field. This time, too, the event, while organized by Natalia Pasichnyk, is supported by our diplomats. Ukraine allocates funds to some cultural programs, so we will try to support the institute she has founded from public funds as well as connections of our embassy. Moreover, Ukrainian culture is in great demand in Sweden. After the concert, I talked to ambassadors of other countries, and they loved it,” the Charge d’Affaires of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Sweden Ihor Tseluiko told us. “The Embassy of Ukraine has been actively working to educate the Swedish public about events in Ukraine by distributing many materials, including via our mailing list, and by talking to NGOs. Swedish press is ready to actively cover events in Ukraine. A May poll conducted in   11 EU countries showed that the Swedish public opinion was the most positively disposed to Ukraine, with 65 percent of the population supporting our country. There is a historical explanation to it: Russian troops approached Stockholm in the early 19th century, Russians shot down Swedish aircraft over the Baltic in the 1950s, and Soviet submarines appeared off the Stockholm archipelago. On the other hand, the Swedes as a democratic nation supported the Euromaidan. The push has been made, and now they understand everything.”

“UKRAINE IS AT THE TOP OF THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION IN SWEDEN NOW”

“It is the first time that I attend such a concert and I am really impressed. Knowledge about Ukraine is somewhat scarce in Sweden now. When I read the French press, I understand that journalists do not understand correctly what is really going on in Ukraine. They just ‘make news to make news.’ For the Ukrainian Institute, it is just the beginning, and they have a long road ahead of them, but I am sure it is a good beginning, and everything will be fine,” Fabian, a Frenchman who lives in Stockholm, shared his impressions.

“I VISITED UKRAINE FOR THE FIRST TIME 1992, WHEN I VISITED MY BROTHER WHO PROMOTED DEMOCRACY IN UKRAINE. I TRAVELED IN THE CARPATHIANS WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN 1993, AS I WENT TO VOROKHTA AND LVIV TO FIND MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER’S GRAVE. I HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH UKRAINE,” THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SWEDEN, SON OF THE FAMOUS AMERICAN DIPLOMAT MARK BRZEZINSKI SAID

“People’s attitude to Ukraine has changed dramatically: while we were asked before what is the distinction between Ukraine and Russia, now all are asking what part of Ukraine you are from. The Swedes came to understand that Ukraine is a country with its own great culture and history. It is very important for the image of Ukraine in the world,” Anastasia, a Ukrainian who has been living in Sweden for four years, told us. “We now need to solve the problems that bring imbalance in Ukrainian society, and then start building the image of Ukraine in the world, and this must be done, first of all, through the diaspora which already exists. We have the human resources to compensate for the lack of financial assistance from the state, but it must be done in cooperation with diplomatic missions. We should focus on it in the future.”

“Ukraine is at the top of the public discussion now. Newspapers publish articles about the situation in the east of Ukraine daily. The Ukrainian Institute shall promote understanding of processes in Ukraine, and in particular promote the Ukrainian culture,” a Swede, Doctor of Psychology at the University of Uppsala Fredrik Johnson told us in Ukrainian.

Part of the funds raised during the concert will be directed in particular to pay for the musical education of the Ukrainian children who have lost their parents during the war in the east.