Berlin Celebrates Ukrainian Resilience in Evening of Music and Poetry
Berlin's cultural scene recently hosted a powerful evening of music and poetry, celebrating Ukrainian resilience. The event, part of the 'Vocations—Open Space, Songs and Vocal Practice Rooted in Poetry' series curated by Haus für Poesie, featured performances by Ganna, a German-Ukrainian vocalist, and the Ukrainian-German poetry collective Landschaft.
The evening kicked off with Ganna's performance of 'Baba', a witty and spirited ode to the strength of Ukrainian women. This piece, along with others like 'Vanishing Voices' and 'UkrTears Incorporated', carried a common thread of unyielding resilience. After a brief intermission, Landschaft took the stage, performing poems written since the start of the war. Their renditions, including Hryhorii Semenchuk’s 'UkrTears Incorporated', served as sorrowful yet furious anthems, echoing the collective spirit of Ukraine.
Earlier in the evening, the Alter Ratio Vocal Ensemble presented Viktor Rekalo’s poem 'Vanishing Voices', set to music composed by Maxim Kolomiiets. The ensemble, Ensemble PHACE, premiered this work at Berlin’s Silent Green. Kolomiiets' composition, stretching nearly twenty minutes, created an electronically crafted, spherical soundscape around the poem's verses. The ensemble went on to present two more world premieres, showcasing their ability to seamlessly blend different poets and composers.
The evening's performances, filled with emotion and unity, served as a testament to the power of art in times of conflict. Through music and poetry, the artists paid tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.
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