The tour includes stops in Warsaw, Gdynia on Poland’s Baltic coast, London, New York, and Washington.
Founded in 2022 by the Polish National Opera and New York's Metropolitan Opera, the orchestra comprises Ukrainian musicians from various orchestras who fled areas under Russian attack, along with Ukrainian members of orchestras in several European countries.
Waldemar Dąbrowski, the director of the Polish National Opera, described the tour as "a gesture of friendship and support for the Ukrainian people and their culture during the war." Speaking to the Polish Press Agency, Dąbrowski emphasized the orchestra's motto, inspired by Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska’s words: "Do not get accustomed to our suffering."
Canadian-Ukrainian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson, who also led the ensemble in 2022 and 2023, will conduct the orchestra. The program features Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, performed in Ukrainian by soloists Olga Bezsmertna (soprano), Nataliia Kukhar (mezzo-soprano), Valentyn Dytiuk (tenor), and Andrii Kymach (bass-baritone), accompanied by a chorus.
Each concert on the tour will open with a piece by Victoria Poleva, either "Freedom," or "Bucha. Lacrimosa," commemorating the victims of the Russian invasion.
Deutsche Grammophon has released a live recording of last year’s Warsaw concert by the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra on CD.
The orchestra is also the subject of a documentary by Oscar-nominated Canadian director Larry Weinstein, titled "Beethoven’s Nine: Ode to Humanity." The film includes interviews with Keri-Lynn Wilson and members of the orchestra, as well as footage of rehearsals in Warsaw and performances. Premiered at this year’s Hot Docs Festival in Toronto, the documentary is available for free viewing on arte.tv.
(mk/jh)
