The ensemble is made up of Ukrainian musicians, members of orchestras from Ukraine who were forced to flee Russia's invasion, as well as Ukrainian members of orchestras in several European countries.
The repertoire includes Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony sung in Ukrainian by Polish soloists Izabela Matuła (soprano), Małgorzata Walewska (mezzo-soprano), Piotr Buszewski (tenor) and Tomasz Konieczny (bass-baritone), accompanied by the chorus of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic in northeastern Poland.
The concert opens with Freedom, a piece by Ukrainian composer Victoria Poleva, whose output also includes Bucha. Lacrimosa. Both works commemorate the victims of the Russian invasion.
The orchestra is led by Canadian Ukrainian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson. It was established in 2022 as an initiative by the Polish National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
The concert in Gdynia, under the motto "Freedom and Solidarity," is held under the auspices of former Polish President Lech Wałęsa, the founder of the Solidarity freedom movement.
Referring to the motto of the event, the director of the Polish National Opera, Waldemar Dąbrowski, said: “Young Ukrainian musicians have replaced guns with violins, cellos, flutes, double-basses, clarinets and other instruments to create an orchestra and tour the world with the idea of moving the hearts and minds of those who have already got accustomed to the suffering of the Ukrainian people.”
Dąbrowski added: ”We do not accept the fact that Russia is treating a country that has its own identity and territorial integrity as a mutinous province.”
Tuesday’s concert is part of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra’s world tour, which began in Paris on July 12 and included a date in Warsaw two days later.
The remaining performances will be at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on July 29, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York on August 1, and Washington’s Kennedy Center on August 4.
The Ukrainian soloists include soprano Olga Bezsmertna, mezzo-soprano Nataliia Kukhar, tenor Valentyn Dytiuk, and bass Andrii Kymach.
(mk/gs)