Vesnivka Choir's Christmas concert features debut of male chamber choir (02/24/02)

Vesnivka Choir's Christmas concert features debut of male chamber choir

by Nykola Parzei

TORONTO - The joyous songs of Christmas on January 13 filled a Toronto church and the hearts of music lovers attending the annual Vesnivka Choir carol concert.

More than 500 people poured into Humbercrest United Church, where the award-winning women's chorus, conducted by director Kvitka Zorych-Kondracka, presented a spiritually uplifting program of traditional, contemporary and rarely heard Ukrainian carols and New Year's songs.

Introducing new or lesser-known works is a long-standing tradition for Ms. Zorych-Kondracka, and Vesnivka audiences have come to look forward to hearing these musically innovative and often challenging compositions that are an important part of the choir's vast repertoire.

"In most organizations or in schools, Ukrainians are accustomed to singing the same carols each year," said Ms. Zorych-Kondracka who established Vesnivka 37 years ago and is the choir's artistic director. "Ukrainians have a very rich repertoire of many beautiful Christmas carols. Many of these pieces would not be heard, especially by our younger audience, if Vesnivka did not sing them at these annual Christmas concerts," she added.

The audience heard more than new music. The concert featured the recently formed Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir, a most welcome addition to Toronto's vibrant choral community.

The ensemble was established this past summer by Ms. Zorych-Kondracka, who has long dreamed of forming a male chorus. She was inspired to make the dream a reality after Vesnivka performed a powerful and moving concert of Ukrainian liturgical music last year with Toronto's renowned Amadeus choir. "We realized how wonderful it is to sing in a mixed choir," she commented.

The Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir made a good first impression, performing two challenging works and proving just how much can be accomplished in a short time when a talented conductor joins forces with a group of people who clearly love to sing. That same magical formula has helped the Vesnivka Choir earn a host of prestigious international and national awards for excellence.

The highlight of the afternoon was when the choirs came together performing a varied program of works including a medly of "koliadky" and "schedrivky" by composer Mykola Lysenko and a contemporary arrangement of a Lemko carol by R. Tsysh.

The concert ended with a spirited new work, "Veselaya Nam Novyna," by composer Lesia Dychko, after which audience members were invited to join in the singing of "Boh Predvichnyi."

The concert was both rewarding and exhilarating for Roman Hurko, a member of the new chamber choir. He said he sees a bright future for the ensemble which he predicted will grow quickly, attracting new members.

"Ukrainians have a long tradition of choral singing and have some lovely male choirs," he said after the successful concert. "However, it is time for younger men, born in Canada to take over the baton from the older generation. That is what I see happening here with the new Male Chamber Choir. I encourage other young men who enjoy singing to join."

Vesnivka continues its busy 2002 season on April 21, when the choir will showcase works by contemporary composers from Ukraine. The concert will feature selections by Stankovych, Stetsenko and Nekrasov, composers from Donetsk. Special guest artists will be pianist Luba and Ireneus Zuk. The concert will be held at the University of Toronto MacMillan Theatre. For further information visit the choir's website at www.vesnivka.com.

| Home Page |