Twenty-five years ago, on February 19, 1994, the Ukrainian National Association celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding with a gala concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.
The Centennial Concert featured 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 ex-political prisoner Mykola Rudenko, was commissioned by the UNA to mark its 100th anniversary.
With baton in hand, Mr. Karabyts conducted the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka (under the direction of Vasyl Hrechynsky), the Ukrainian National Choir (under the direction of Michael Dlaboha), Metropolitan Opera bass Paul Plishka, New York City Opera soprano Oksana Krovytska, pianist Mykola Suk and cellist Volodymyr Pateleyev. Pianists Genya Paley, Thomas Hrynkiw and percussionist Michael Sgourous were accompanists.
Among the favorites were the folk-influenced Lysenko selections: the chorus from the opera “Utoplena” (The Drowned Maiden) and the “Vesnianky” (Spring Songs) arrangements, the latter featuring soprano Vera McFeaters. Ms. Krovytska’s masterful soprano was showcased in Antonin Dvorak’s “Song to the Moon” from the opera “Rusalka,” in Giacomo Puccini’s aria “Tu, che di gel sei cinta” from “Turandot,” and in Dr. Ihor Sonevytsky’s “Pokhmillya” (with lyrics by Oleksander Oles) and “Your Eyes” (lyrics by Ivan Franko) sung by Mr. Plishka.
The Leontovych String Quartet was noted for its finesse and polish, as well as its rendition of Myroslav Skoryk’s “Melody,” a transcription of an excerpt from one of the composer’s film scores.
The performance was greeted with a standing ovation by the appreciative audience, among whom were members of Ukraine’s diplomatic corps in the U.S.A., led by Ambassador Oleh Bilorus and prominent Church and community leaders.
The concert’s master of ceremonies was Nestor Holynskyj. Opening remarks were delivered in Ukrainian and English by UNA Supreme President Ulana Diachuk, who reminded all that the evening was dedicated to “the countless leaders of this organization, who, through devoted efforts, contributed in building a firm foundation for the Ukrainian National Association.”
Greetings were delivered by Pavlo Movchan, a member of the Parliament of Ukraine and president of the Prosvita Ukrainian Language Society, which had co-sponsored with the UNA the Teaching English in Ukraine program. Mr. Movchan said the UNA serves as “the most important community-fraternal institution beyond the borders of Ukraine, which throughout its history had a great influence on the Ukrainian national organism,” and wished the UNA continued success in its second century.
The UNA hosted a centennial luncheon reception on February 20 at its Home Office in Jersey City, N.J., with UNA Supreme Assembly members and employees of the UNA and its subsidiary operations, including the Svoboda Press, its newspapers Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, the Veselka children’s magazine, the UNA Washington Office and the Ukrainian National Urban Renewal Corp. The event was catered by Soyuzivka staff.
Also in attendance were Ambassador Bilorus with his wife, Laryssa; Consul General of New York Viktor Kryzhanivsky, with his wife, Liudmyla; the acting chief of Ukraine’s Mission to the U.N., Volodymyr Khandogy; Georgiy Cherniavsky, Ukraine’s presidential adviser on protocol; and Serhiy Buriak, consultant to the president of Ukraine.
A champagne toast was raised to the UNA, with greetings delivered by the invited guests, and a plaque was presented by Mr. Movchan to Ms. Diachuk. The luncheon concluded with a centennial anniversary cake and the singing of “Mnohaya Lita,” wishing the UNA many more years of service to the community.
Another centennial concert featuring “Jubilee Cantata” was held on March 13 at the Academy of Music of Philadelphia. A gala concert that included Mr. Plishka, soprano Melanie Pankow, violinist Helen Horodyska, pianist Oleh Kyshka, the Ukrainian Bandurst Chorus and the Surma Choir of Chicago was held on April 17 at Centre East Auditorium in Skokie, Ill., to mark the centennial celebration of the UNA.
The Centennial Concert at Carnegie Hall was a continuation of the UNA’s tradition of sponsoring major cultural events. In 1964, on the 70th anniversary of the UNA’s founding, the organization sponsored the premiere of Paul Pecheniha Ouglitzky’s opera “The Witch” at Carnegie Hall. Five years later, for the 75th jubilee, another artistic first was presented by the UNA – the premiere of “Anna Yaroslavna,” an opera by Antin Rudnytsky, with libretto by Leonid Poltava.
On the 95th anniversary in 1989, the UNA sponsored a concert at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York, 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.
Source: “Gala concert at Carnegie Hall marks UNA centennial,” The Ukrainian Weekly, February 27, 1994.