"Joy to the World" concert benefits Ukraine's orphanages (02/06/05)

"Joy to the World" concert benefits Ukraine's orphanages

by Bohdan Malaniak and Alexander Rivney

LOS ANGELES - Never before has an event such as this happened in the Ukrainian community of Los Angeles. On December 18, 2004, through the collaborative efforts of the Ukrainian National Choir Kobzar of Los Angeles and the Pasadena Community Orchestra, a presentation of Christmas carols from around the world became a reality. This event was held to benefit the orphanages of Ukraine. The concert was featured under the motto "Joy to the World."

As the audience entered the lobby of the historic Wilshire Ebell Theater, they encountered a three-foot-by-four-foot sign reading "Joy to the World," with a border composed of poinsettias. Upon entering the theater hall, the thing that immediately stood out was a large three-foot-by-15-foot sign, stretching across the center of the stage. The sign featured carolers and the message, "Joy to the World," once more. But perhaps the most striking effect on the mood of the observers was the sea of orange ribbons displayed by the entire ensemble in support of a just and democratic election process in Ukraine.

The concert opened with "A Christmas Festival," an orchestral medley composed by Leroy Anderson. The audience was pleasantly delighted, and the orchestra, some 70 members strong, and its conductor, Wayne Reinecke, received a standing ovation.

After welcoming remarks by the master of ceremonies, Luba Keske, the choir opened with "Dobriy Vechir Tobi" (Good Evening), arranged by conductor Gregory Hallick-Holutiak. Again the audience responded with equal pleasure. The next two numbers, "Oy na Richtsi, na Yordani" (On the River Jordan) by Kyrylo Stetsenko and "Oy Dozvol, Pan Khaziayin" (Let us Carol) by Vasyl Stupnytsky, were received with equal enthusiasm.

These carols were followed by the orchestra featuring the "Introduction March and Shepherd's Dance" by Gian Carlo Menotti from "Amahl and The Night Visitors" and the "Polonaise" from "Christmas Night" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The next three carols were sung by the choir; "Boh Sia Rozhdaye" (God is Being Born) by Stetsenko, "Schedrivka Dzvony" (The Bells) by Dmytro Kotko, featuring the pleasant baritone voice of Mykola Zlydenny, and "Oy Syvaya ta i Zozulenka" (The Gray Cuckoo) by Stetsenko. The orchestra's rendition of "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson concluded the first half of the concert. The audience's standing ovation, that immediately followed, instilled a high level of confidence in all the performers.

After the intermission, the orchestra featured "It's Christmastime" by Calvin Custer. It also featured guest performer Ola Herasymenko-Oliynyk, a native of Ukraine and the first professional bandurist to have been featured as a soloist with American Symphony orchestras. Her contribution featured "Ukrainske Rizdvo" (Ukrainian Christmas) by Yuriy Oliynyk, and three traditional carols, "Oy Vysoko Nad Poliamy" (Up in the Hills), "Try Slavniyi Tsari" (Three Kings), and "Dyvnaya Novyna" (Wonderful Tidings). The audience was mesmerized. For the many in attendance it was the first time they heard the sound of the Ukrainian national instrument. Not only the audience, but also the members of the orchestra watched with amazement the bandura soloists' performance.

The remaining six carols were performed with the accompaniment of the orchestra. They were "Joy to the World" by G.E. Handel, "Walking in the Air" by Blake, "The First Noel" (traditional English carol), "Silent Night" by Gruber, "O Come All Ye Faithful" by John E. Wade, and "I Believe in Father Christmas," based on Troika from the "Lt. Kijé Suite" by Sergei Prokofiev.

It was during this segment of the program that the audience was joyfully engaged and responded with an explosive ovation, which in effect was a demand for an encore.

Next, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich gave some words of praise and encouragement by presenting the two musical directors with beautiful scrolls. A congratulatory message from Jack Palance was read by Luba Keske.

After the presentation the audience was rewarded with an encore of "Shchedryk" (Carol of the Bells) by Mykola Leontovych. This evoked an equally strong enthusiastic response from the concert-goers in attendance.

There are several factors that contributed to this successful performance by the two musical organizations. First of all, the Kobzar Choir's young and energetic musical director, Mr. Hallick-Holutiak, conceived the idea of the concert. He presented this idea to the Pasadena Orchestra's musical director, Mr. Reinecke, to which he immediately agreed. Secondly, the Kobzar Choir was pleased to have the Ukrainian Culture Center as its sponsor.

Other factors that were also helpful were the willingness of the two musical organizations to work together, the numerous and generous sponsors, support from the entire community, the augmentation of singing voices from San Diego (15) and Chicago (two), the beautifully designed programs by Maria Oharenko, the masterful presentation of the program by the master of ceremonies, the taping crew from Chicago, and the good will on the part of every member of the Kobzar Choir.

The older members of the choir nostalgically reminisced about Kobzar Choir's performance on this very same stage 22 years ago, with Metropolitan Opera star Paul Plishka and composer and piano virtuoso Virko Baley. Like the concert 22 years ago, this concert lived up to the expectations of the Ukrainian community and restored pride in the Ukrainian heritage.

The concert benefited everyone, but the biggest benefactors will be the orphanages in Ukraine, which the community so generously supported.

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