A theatrical memorial concert
Premiere: 29th of September 2016, National Opera Theatre of Ukraine, Kyiv
September 2016 will mark the 75th anniversary of the human tragedy that occurred at Babyn Yar, a ravine on the outskirts of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Like Auschwitz in Poland, Babyn Yar in Ukraine has become a major symbol of the destruction of Europe’s Jews during the Holocaust. It began in September 1941 with the murder of nearly 34.000 Jews and continued for the next several years with the murder of tens of thousands of more Jews, as well as Roma/Gypsie, Soviet prisoners of war, Ukrainian national activists and Communist party members from various parts of the Ukraine.
During the week of September 23 - 29, Kyiv will be the site of several events related to the commemoration of Babyn Jar. Among these a theatrical memorial concert will take place at the National Opera House in Kyiv on September 29, 2016. It will feature a fully staged Kol Nidrei by Max Bruch, Babyn Jar by the Ukrainian composer Yevhen Stankovych, and after the interval there will be an ode to the hope, to be seen in fully staged Das Deutsche Requiem by Johannes Brahms as well. Over 160 performers (orchestra, choir, soloists) from 15 countries worldwide will present these "opera's" in a staging by the Dutch stage director Annechien Koerselman and under the direction of a native of Ukraine, Oksana Lyniv, conductor at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich
The Babyn Yar Project is a non-governmental commemoration Implemented by the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter in cooperation with: National Organizing Committee for the 75th Anniversary of the Babyn Yar Tragedy under the patronage of the President of Ukraine.
Foto © Andrew Waller
Credits Cast & Crew
Tenor Benjamin Butterfield
Soprano Gal James
Bass-Baritone Pavlo Hunka
Cellist Roman Borys
Chorus Dumka, National Academic Choir of Ukraine
Orchestra Hamburg Symphony Orchestra
Composers Max Bruch (Kol Nidrei), Yevhen Stankovych (Babyn Jar), Johannes Brahms (Das Deutsche Requiem)
Conductor Oksana Lyniv
Stage-direction Annechien Koerselman
Costume- & Lightdesigner Annechien Koerselman
Assistant-Conductor Ivan Cherednichenko
Assistant-Director Clara Schürle, Roman Hurko, Carmen Hurko
Graphic Design Anna Harasym
Producer Pavlo & Larysa Hunka
Chairman Pavlo Hunka, internationally acclaimed opera singer Founder and Artistic Director, Ukrainian Art Song Project
Organisation Ukranian Jewish Encounter, Toronto, Canada
SHOWS
Kyiv National Opera Theatre of Ukraine 29 september 2016 11.00uur Premiere
More information: rememberbabynyar, ukrainianjewishencounter, ukrainianartsong
