Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra

Written By: Gail Clifford | Published By: Weekend Notes | July 16, 2022

https://www.weekendnotes.com/ukrainian-freedom-orchestra-nch-dublin/

The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra visits Dublin for one performance only in their tour of Europe and the United States.

The Ukraine Ministry of Culture grants a special exemption for military-age male members to participate, the power of art over adversity to pick up instruments and put down weapons.

Assembled by the Polish National Opera and New York’s Metropolitan Opera, the orchestra includes recent refugees, soldiers, Ukrainian members of other European orchestras and top musicians of Ukraine.

Ukrainian-Canadian conductor, Keri-Lynn Wilson, leads the orchestra in a program that includes Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov’s Seventh Symphony, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and more. Ukrainian piano virtuoso Anna Fedorova and soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska perform “Abscheulicher!” Leonore’s great aria from Beethoven’s opera Fidelio, considered one of the most emotionally gripping arias in opera literature.