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Polish Radio hosts concert for Ukraine

30.05.2022 07:00
Public broadcaster Polish Radio on Sunday held a special concert in honour of war-torn Ukraine.
Photo:
Photo:Cezary Piwowarski/Polish Radio

It was a follow-up to last week’s charity auction for Ukraine’s ill children.

At the start of the concert, Polish Radio CEO Agnieszka Kamińska presented Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland, Andrii Deshchytsia, with a cheque for the money raised during the auction, Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Concert for Ukraine

Sunday’s event was staged at Polish Radio’s Witold Lutosławski Studio. It began with the Polish Radio Orchestra playing Melody, a piece by contemporary Ukrainian composer Miroslav Skoryk. 

The Polish musicians were then joined on stage by Oleksandra Zaitseva and Dmytro Tavanets, known as the Kyiv Piano Duo.

Crowning the concert was a performance by Krajka, a Ukrainian folk singers’ band from the southeastern Polish city of Przemyśl, accompanied by a group of refugee children. 

Auction for Ukrainian children

Last Thursday’s auction raised a total of PLN 54,300 (EUR 11,800) for the benefit of the National Children’s Hospital in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. 

“It was a special auction, held for those who are suffering the most, children,” Polish Radio’s Kamińska said.

"We hope the money collected will help the hospital," she added.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Deshchytsia thanked the Polish people for solidarity with his country. He added that support for the Kyiv hospital “will be noted in Ukraine and remembered by the children.”

Thursday’s auction on Polish Radio 1 saw bidders vie for rare items donated by some of Poland’s most famous personalities, including First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda, soccer star Robert Lewandowski and tennis player Iga Świątek

Polish Radio stands with Ukraine

The concert and auction were the latest Polish Radio initiative for Poland’s war-torn eastern neighbour, executives said. 

In March, the public broadcaster held a benefit concert for Ukraine, while last month it helped the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra prepare for a European tour, the IAR news agency reported.

Monday is day 96 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Poland on Sunday reported it had welcomed over 3.68 million refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, polskieradio.pl