Music and family history intertwine in Hunter, N.Y.: an evening to remember (09/14/03)

Music and family history intertwine in Hunter, N.Y.: an evening to remember

by Alexandra Spinner

HUNTER, N.Y. - On Saturday, August 2, among the magnificent paintings of Edward Kozak (Eko), Mychailo Moroz and others, the "Music at the Grazdha" classical music summer festival presented lyric soprano Halyna Wolanska and pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky, the newly appointed music director of Music and Art Center of Greene County, in a nostalgic and tender recital dedicated to the memory of Halyna Vytvytska Wolanska.

The program included a palate of carefully selected song cycles and arias based on the theme of love, from baroque, romantic, impressionist, as well as contemporary composers. Mr. Vynnytsky and Ms. Wolanska blended seamlessly to create, along with the audience, a magical aura that extended throughout the evening.

Brief anecdotes and personal narratives introduced each song set and served as the connecting thread throughout the program. Some of the highlights of the first half included a Strauss and Ravel song cycle. The former, in "Allerseelen," evoked the sweet memories of the departed spirits, while the latter, sung in its original Greek version, colorfully depicted the groom's vivid emotions as he awaits his bride.

The second half of the program was an excellent balance of well-known and seldom-performed pieces by various Ukrainian composers. Hulak-Artemovsky's majestic "Vladyko Neba i Zemli" was followed by the haunting harmonies of Verekivsky's "Viy." This operatic set ended with a vivacious rendition of Lyscenko's "O Ya Divchyna Poltavka."

The stunning music and poetry of Sonevytsky's "Zeleni Evanheliya" cycle, composed for his wife, was the second wedding cycle in the program. It portrayed the groom's passionate affections for his beautiful bride as they begin their sacred lifelong journey together.

The last song set, three Tangos, by the late Bohdan Wolanskyj were composed for his wife, Urania; "Liubov," "Tozh Prosty Meni, Myla," and the award-winning "Tvoyi Ochi" (Best Original Song, Ukrainian Music Awards, 1988). Mr. Vynnytsky's virtuoso playing was in evidence throughout the concert and in particular in his wonderful improvisations in this last set of tangos.

Ms. Wolanska's mellifluous soprano voice, with it's warm and velvety tones, enveloped the audience and transported them into these enchanting stories of love and passion. The encore piece, "Ridna Maty Moya," was dedicated to Ms. Wolanska's grandmother, Halyna Vytvytska Wolanska. This exceptionally gifted soprano and devoted wife and mother, had declined the offer of a full scholarship to study at La Scala de Milano, the greatest opera house of the day.

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Serendipitously, this recital coincided with a Wolansky family reunion taking place in Kerhonkson and Hunter, N.Y. This four-week reunion was primarily organized and funded by Dr. Oleh Wolansky and his children. Family members traveled from all over North America and Ukraine to participate in this event.

The last Wolansky reunion, organized by the late Stephan Wolansky, also took place in Hunter, almost 15 years ago. That reunion also was enlivened with a wonderful concert - the talented performers all being members of the Wolansky clan.

Throughout the years, Stephan Wolansky had faithfully and meticulously kept an account of the family tree headed by Myroslav, the 11th century knight. Myroslav Wolansky gave his life in saving the king for which he was posthumously knighted. His family thereafter received noble status as well as a family crest. The lineage of knights, priests, physicians, educators, scientists, musicians, writers and humanitarians have passed on their convictions, knowledge and mostly love for Ukraine from one generation to the next.

To preserve this rich ancestral heritage, Stephan Wolansky's nephew, Dr. Oleh Wolansky and Stephan's son Nestor, have taken over where their forefather dutifully left off. The 2003 reunion was graced by the presence of Dr. Oleh Wolansky: family patriarch, choral director, composer, psychiatrist, health administrator and husband of the late Ludmila Wolansky, an editor of the Ukrainian-language newspaper Svoboda.

On a balmy, summer evening nestled in the Catskill Mountains, music and history intertwined for an unforgettable evening of delightful melodies, and familial remembrances.

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