Turning the pages back... February 22, 1994 (02/22/04)

Turning the pages back...

February 22, 1994

As the Ukrainian National Association on February 22, 1994, celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding, the fraternal benefit society sponsored a gala concert at New York's elegant Carnegie Hall. Held several days earlier, on Saturday evening, February 19, the Centennial Concert was highlighted by the world premiere of the "Jubilee Cantata" by Kyiv composer Ivan Karabyts. The cantata for choir, soprano, bass, piano, cello and percussion, with lyrics by Mykola Rudenko, was commissioned by the Ukrainian National Association to mark its centenary.

With Mr. Karabyts himself conducting, the cantata was performed as a finale by the Dumka Ukrainian Chorus, the Ukrainian National Choir, Metropolitan Opera bass Paul Plishka, New York City Opera soprano Oksana Krovytska, pianist Mykola Suk and cellist Volodymyr Panteleyev. Pianist Genya Paley and percussionist Michael Sgourous were accompanists.

The new work was greeted with a standing ovation by an appreciative audience - among whom were members of Ukraine's diplomatic corps in this country, led by Ambassador Oleh Bilorus, and prominent Church and community leaders.

The Centennial Concert at Carnegie Hall continued the Ukrainian National Association's tradition of sponsoring major cultural events. In 1964, on the occasion of its 70th anniversary, the UNA sponsored the premiere of Paul Pecheniha Ouglitzky's opera, "The Witch," at Carnegie Hall. Five years later, to mark its 75th jubilee, the organization presented yet another artistic first at that world famous music hall, the premiere of "Anna Yaroslavna," an opera by Antin Rudnytsky, with libretto by Leonid Poltava.

In 1989, its 95th anniversary year, the Ukrainian National Association sponsored a concert at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, featuring the Dumka Chorus and its vocal ensemble, the Syzokryli Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and soloists soprano Marta Kokolska-Musijtschuk, lyric soprano Mary Lesawyer, tenor Ed Evanko and baritone Ihor Darian.

Also on the bill for the UNA's Centennial Concert at Carnegie Hall was the Leontovych String Quartet - composed of Yuri Mazurkevich, first violin, Yuri Kharenko, second violin, Borys Deviatov, viola, and Mr. Panteleyev, cello - playing works by Myroslav Skoryk and Franz Schubert.

Together, the Dumka Chorus and Ukrainian National Choir performed works by Dmytro Bortniansky, Mykola Lysenko, Kyrylo Stetsenko, Yevhen Kozak and Hryhoriy Kytasty under the direction of their conductors, respectively, Vasyl Hrechynsky and Michael Dlaboha. They were accompanied by pianists Ms. Paley, Olena Litvinenko and Olenka Stasyshyn.

Mr. Plishka and Ms. Krovytska appeared also in solo numbers with pianist Thomas Hrynkiw serving as accompanist. Ms. Krovytska sang operatic arias by Antonin Dvorak and Giacomo Puccini, while Mr. Plishka performed works by Lysenko. Each also sang a work by composer Ihor Sonevytsky of New York.

In a review of the concert, Oles Kuzyszyn wrote:

"The practice of commissioning a musical work to honor an important occasion is one which the Ukrainian diaspora does not take advantage of often enough. Such commissions are an investment in the cultural heritage of a community, and serve as an invaluable impetus for the creative process. Therefore, the Ukrainian National Association deserves a tremendous amount of credit for this gesture, so in sync with the now century-old mission of this organization.

"The UNA could not have chosen two more deserving recipients than Ivan Karabyts, one of Ukraine's foremost composers, and Mykola Rudenko, a luminary in the literary world of Ukraine. Mr. Rudenko's genuinely optimistic and patriotic text was set by Mr. Karabyts in a kaleidoscope of evolving textures, judiciously distributed among the chorus, soloists and instrumental forces.

"Supported by a rich, vibrant harmonic underpinning, the opening choral motive became a leitmotif emerging periodically in the piano, later, slightly permutated in the chorus. The composer utilized color and shading much the way a skilled painter might, creating a multi-dimensional sound canvas as a backdrop for new melodic material."

Mr. Kuzysyzn also noted that two speakers graced the concert stage that evening. Ulana M. Diachuk, supreme president of the Ukrainian National Association, delivered a concise, well-formulated mission statement, as well as an interesting overview of the UNA's 100 years of activity. Anniversary greetings to the UNA were delivered by Pavlo Movchan, poet, executive board member of the Ukrainian Writers' Union, chairman of the Prosvita Society, as well as a member of Ukraine's Parliament. His address expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian diaspora for its tireless efforts on behalf of Ukraine, as well as an inspiring vote of confidence to the UNA in particular, in recognition of this organization's foresight and leadership.

Source: "Gala concert at Carnegie Hall marks UNA centennial" and "Concert review: UNA's centennial gala at Carnegie Hall," by Oles Kuzyszyn, both in The Ukrainian Weekly, February 27, 1994, Vol. LXII, No. 9.

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