LOS ANGELES – The Ukrainian Art Center on Sunday, September 16, presented an original bilingual artistic production honoring the late Ukrainian American singer Kvitka Cisyk.
The dramatic play was written in Ukrainian by Victoria Kuzina, the artistic Core director for the Ukrainian Art Center, and translated into English by Julia Michaels and Luba Keske. Ms. Kuzina narrated the play in Ukrainian and George Yemetz in English.
A plethora of young local acting, dancing and musical talents emerged as the production progressed: Maxim Kuzina recitated Lina Kostenko’s poem “Wings”; Olenka Kaspersky offered a violin solo, “I will go to the Distant Hills”; Margaryta Kuzina performed “A Campfire at Dusk” and “Kolomyika”; Asya Gorska sang “Two Colors” and “The Sleeping City”; Uliana Malyniak sang “You Light Up My Life” and “O’ My Mountain Peak”; and Oleg and Natalia Loparovy performed a staged dance to Kvitka’s recording of “A Song to the Moon.”
The finale, “I will go to the Distant Hills,” was sung by the entire ensemble.
On a sunny California Sunday afternoon, over 100 Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian guests gathered at the transformed Ukrainian Culture Center, where they were treated to an unexpected and heart-felt glimpse into the life of the beloved Kvitka. Through narration, music, dance and video montages, the audience experienced Kvitka’s fascinating childhood, teenage years and adulthood, and followed her life and amazing career until her tragic untimely death in 1998.
Elizabeth Zaharkiv-Yemetz
Asya Gorska performs one of Kvitka’s songs “The Sleeping City.”
As the play unfolded, we learned that Kvitka Cisyk, aka Kacey Cisyk, was born to Ukrainian immigrant parents, Wolodymyr and Iwanna, who survived World War II and eventually settled in New York. Her father was a virtuoso violinist, and Kvitka became his student at age 5. She excelled as a violinist, which eventually garnered her a scholarship to the State University of New York (SUNY) in Binghamton.
However, during her early years, Kvitka also loved to sing. Her genetic musical proclivity was first noticed in Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization during summer camps where she created and led a musical ensemble named Nightingales.
After one year at SUNY her focus changed from instrumental to vocal. Offered a scholarship to Mannes College of Music, Kvitka followed her heart and eventually became a classically trained singer, achieving success in popular, blues, opera and Ukrainian folk music.
Kvitka performed in many venues and recorded with a number of world-renowned singing artists, but her biggest success was achieved as the voice and persona of the Ford Motor Co. Over 20 billion people heard Kvitka sing the slogan “Have you driven a Ford lately.” Kvitka’s amazing coloratura voice and boundless energy were soon recognized by other iconic American companies, such as McDonalds and Coca Cola.
And then, Hollywood beckoned. However, Kvitka’s shot at fame was derailed by an unscrupulous songwriter/producer. Her demo “You Light up My Life” became part of the soundtrack of the movie by the same name. Although it was Kvitka’s voice on the award-winning song, she received no screen credit or recognition for her work at the Oscar ceremony. She was heartbroken and disappointed, but not for long.
These unfortunate events caused Kvitka to refocus her energies back to her original love – her Ukrainian roots and music. Using her own money and the combined talents of her husband, family and friends, each accomplished in their own area of expertise, no expense was spared for the arrangement and orchestration for Kvitka’s albums “Songs of Ukraine,” released in 1980 and “Two Colors,” released in 1989.
Kvitka’s dream to tour Ukraine with her beloved music in a series of concerts was shattered by a diagnosis of breast cancer which she bravely battled for seven years with her husband and young son constantly by her side. But Kvitka’s songs, which carried her soul entwined in her mesmerizing voice, did make their way to Ukraine where they live on in the land of her ancestors.
Towards the end of the program at the Ukrainian Art Center, the audience heard Kvitka’s soulful rendition of “The Cranes Are Flying.” The audience rose and stood in silence, leaving few dry eyes in a hushed hall.
After the finale, Daria Chaikovsky, founder and president of the Ukrainian Art Center of Los Angeles, graciously thanked the guests for their support of the center’s second major stage production as well as the creative ensemble, the board and volunteers.
Technical support for the production was provided by Maxim Kuzin, Iryna and Andriy Korotyn, Olga Starow and Dr. Andriy Olesiuk.