Telnyuk sisters put Baltimore on the map, culturally speaking (01/05/03)

Telnyuk sisters put Baltimore on the map, culturally speaking

by Oleh Voloshyn

BALTIMORE - Baltimore is back on the map of the Ukrainian cultural life in the United States. Thanks to a successful visit by the Telnyuk sisters duo from Ukraine on November 9-10, 2002.

The duo made two appearances here: one at a meeting with fans at Ze Mean Bean Café and another at a concert hosted by the parish of St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, located in the heart of the once-flourishing Ukrainian community in Baltimore.

The concert fetured a new program titled "Firebirds" that created a mystic atmosphere and spiritual connections between the performers and the viewers. The duo broke the barriers between styles and cultures, and brought a contemporary sound even to the classical poetry of Taras Shevchenko and Lesia Ukrainka. Their voices and the rich sounds of the bandura penetrated the souls of all listeners who appreciate art. The Telnyuk sisters' poetry selection was yet more proof that the Ukrainian language is among the most melodic and lyrical in the world.

Many of their songs were sad, maybe as a reflection of the demise in Ukrainian culture so deeply felt today by artists, but the sisters' powerful voices, as well as the professional music by Lesya Telnyuk and Oleksij Batkovsky, give listeners reason to hope that Ukrainian culture still has its guardian angel and will blossom yet again.

Local organizations such as The Washington Group Cultural Fund, Selfreliance Baltimore Federal Credit Union, Ukrainian Association of the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area, Baltimore Ukrainian Festival Committee, Charchalis & Co P.A., and the Baltimore chapter of Ukrainian American Youth Association sponsored the advertising campaign for the Telnyuk sisters' visit.

Publicity in many ethnic communities in the Washington area helped broaden the audience for Ukrainian art, and brought many non-Ukrainians to the Ukrainian duo's concert.

The duet completed its three-month-long Canada-U.S. tour with concerts in California.

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