Kyiv Chamber Choir to make U.S. debut at Carnegie Hall (11/30/97)

Kyiv Chamber Choir to make U.S. debut at Carnegie Hall

NEW YORK - The Kyiv Chamber Choir, Ukraine's premiere a capella choir which since its founding in 1990, has earned international recognition as one of the outstanding chamber choirs in Europe, will make its American debut in a series of performances, including an appearance at the Washington National Cathedral, where it will perform a choral prelude on Sunday, December 21, at 10:30 a.m., and a premiere performance that same day at Carnegie Hall at 8 p.m..

Additional performances will be held at the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Center in Philadelphia on December 18 at 8 p.m.; George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., on December 20 at 8 p.m.; and at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, N.H., on December 22 at 8 p.m..

The choir, under the direction of Mykola Hobdych, has gained international renown for performing many of the best choral pieces found in Ukrainian music history and for its high level of professionalism.

As part of the American concert program, the 22-member choir will perform Ukrainian liturgical and Christmas music from the 17th-20th centuries.

Works performed will include the liturgical music of 17th century composer of polyphonic music Mykola Diletsky and the outstanding Ukrainian composers of liturgical music of the latter half of the 18th century Maksym Berezovsky, Artem Vedel and Dmytro Bortniansky. The repertoire will also include the works of 20th century composers who wrote church music, Mykola Lysenko, Kyrylo Stetsenko, Mykola Leontovych, Ostap Nyzhankivsky and Yaroslav Yatsynevych; and contemporary Ukrainian composers, Lesia Dychko, Yevhen Stankoych, Volodymyr Stepurko, Yurii Alzhniev and Anatolii Avdievsky.

The Kyiv Chamber Choir, was formed in December 1990 by Mr. Hobdych, a graduate of Kyiv's Peter Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music. Under Mr. Hobdych's direction, the choir has focused on restoring historic Ukrainian music and performing the contemporary works of Ukrainian composers.

The choir has won numerous prizes at international competitions, including the 1992 golden diploma at the First International R. Schumann Choral Competition, held in Zwickau, Germany; 1993 first prize and 1996 grand prix at the International Competition of Orthodox Church Music, held in Hajnuwka, Poland; 1993 grand prix at the International Choral Competition, held in Sligo, Ireland; and second prize in 1994 at the Liangollen international Musical Eisteddfod, held in Wales.

In addition, the Kyiv Chamber Choir has performed concerts and participated in a variety of European music festivals, including the 1993 International Avant-Garde Festival of Modern Music (Munich), the 1994 International Festival of Classical Music (Rouen, France), the 1994 Baroque Festival (Kyiv), the 1995 Festival of Ancient Music (both in Cricklade and Canterbury, England), Festival "Copenhagen - Cultural Capital of Europe '96," and the 32nd International Festival of Music and Fine Arts "Wratislavia Cantans '97" (Poland).

To date, the group has released seven recordings. The discography of the group includes: "Masterpieces of the Ukrainian Choral Baroque," "Praise the Lord" and "Wonder of Wonders" on the Sonopress label; "Izhe Kheruvymy: Ukrainian Sacred Music of the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries" on Polygram; P. Tchaikovsky's "Liturgy" on the Naxos label; and "Ukrainian Liturgy" on French label.

The choir is featured on the just-released "Svyati: Steven Iserlis plays the music of John Tavener" on BMG Classics, which has been awarded the Mercury Music Award for best classical CD of 1997. The choir is currently working on its eighth recording, "Christmas Evenings" featuring traditional and contemporary adaptations of Christmas carols and songs by Ukrainian composers.

The concert tour was initiated by the American Friends for Ukraine.

Additional support has been provided by the Kyiv City Department of Culture, Air Ukraine, The Washington Group Cultural Fund, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Ukrainian National Association, Ukrainian Institute of America, the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States, the Consulate General of Ukraine in New York; and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations. New York-based Micocci Productions represents the choir in America and is coordinating the tour.

For tickets call CarnegieCharge, (212) 247-7800; for group sales and information call (212) 874-2030.

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