Requiem, giving the hope of immortality

One of the initiators of the concert is Oksana Madarash, a conductor who has retired from the horrors of war to Lithuania, whose trampolines obey the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, Kaunas State Choir, Ukraine guests: violinist Myroslava Kotorovich and Soprano Hanna Tverdova, and Mecosoprano Gabrielė Kuzmickaite. Boss Žygimantas Galinis.

About the concert program and the factors that inspired it – the conversation of opera soloist Giedrius Prunskus with the conductor O. Madarash.

– What is the concert and what awaits the Kaunas State Philharmonic audience?

– “Bucha. Lacrimosa – for centuries – a memory concert that we seek to remind you of the third year's war. We dedicate it to the peaceful inhabitants of Ukraine who died and, of course, the heroes who had taken the weapon and opposed the invasion of the aggressor to take Kiev in three days. Of course, the title of the concert was also determined by the work of Ukrainian composer Victoria Polyova to the violin and orchestra « Bucha. Lacrimosa.  » Tonight listeners will hear its premiere in Lithuania.

The work reflects the composer's experiences experienced in the kiss, first days after the city's liberation from the aggressor. The kiss is a city where 422 peaceful residents were killed and tortured. The epigraph of the work could serve the words of the composer himself: “There was life, and it is no longer available. There are only souls that fly out as a smoke. ”

The work is very strong and I am convinced that those who will hear its premiere will feel the real depth and pain of the work at the physical level. Another piece of this concert is the Neutrian Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Requiem.

Mission: Kiss O. Madara, who has escaped a symbol of cruelty from Russia, says he felt as if he was born a second time to help his country in the fight for independence. / O. Magaras Personal Archive Photo

– Why did you choose WA Mozart's Requiem?

– This is one of my favorite works, a prayer that remembers not only the day of the last trial, but also praying for all the dead. The first line of Requiem Eternam testifies to eternal memory, ie what remains for us, the living. On the other side, the Lux Perpetua is an eternal light that comes to the dead. There are many Requiem in the treasure trove of musical literature, but this piece is exceptional. The composer died and was unable to complete his masterpiece, and Lacrimosa became a real sigh of the composer. The work he is known today was finally completed by his student Franz Xaver Süssmair. Thus, Wa Mozart's Requiem is a work that gives the hope of immortality. According to the Ukrainian tradition, we say « heroes do not die » after inverting the dead warrior, after inverting, inverting, instead of sadness and loss. We all hope that the victims put on the altar of Ukrainian Freedom were not in vain.

– works of genius classics and today's composer. Can they be related?

– Both of the works during the concert are very closely related. V. Polyova's Lacrimosa and Wa Mozart's Lacrimosa will be performed one after the other, creating a meaningful arch – from contemporary music to classics, from Ukraine's tragedy to universal musical mourning. I believe that such a sequence will strengthen the emotional context, emphasize the smooth transition between two Lacrimosa and convey the overall message of grief, deep respect in memory of the dead. Ukrainian and world music will join this sound, creating eternal memory. On the other hand, the connection between these two works testifies that Ukraine is a country with great heritage and is related to Europe not only in its territory but also in culture. As an example, composer Maxim Berezovsky, Dmitry Bortnianski or Artemiah, who were back in the 18th century, can be used. Studied in Europe.

V. Polyova's Lacrimosa and WA Mozart's Lacrimosa will be performed one after the other, creating a meaningful arch – from the tragedy of Ukraine to the universal musical mourning.

– You have had to communicate with Lithuanian artists and musical groups before. After escaping from the war -induced hell, you chose Lithuania for your temporary residence. What is the daily routine and mission of a cultural spokesman who leaving the home country through violence?

– Since 2008 I cooperated with Kaunas Musical Theater, I was repeatedly invited to conduct at the Operetta Festival in Kaunas Castle, we organized joint concerts both in Kyvi and Kaunas, prepared a joint building at the Kyvas National Academic Operetta Theater, where I worked for a conductor for 20 years. As the hostilities began, colleagues from Kaunas Musical Theater learned that I was in a kiss – stretching out a helping hand, inviting, supporting and helping. For that, I will always be grateful to them. Although I have been living in Lithuania for some time, I am constantly in Ukraine.

During the invasion, I was in a kiss and saw the entire hell's machine with my own eyes. At one point I even thought my life was over. However, with the opportunity to leave the occupied territory, which at the time seemed almost impossible, I went to Lithuania. When I recovered from the shock, I thought – and why did I have a chance to be born a second time? If I have already received such a gift – living and breathing – I have to do my best to help my country in the fight for independence. After all, the fight is not only in front of the front lines or on the battlefield, as well as in politics, diplomacy and culture. For three years, with the help of the allies, we are opposed to the huge country, and our main weapon is the strength of the Ukrainian spirit. Sometimes I observe people on the streets of Kaunas and think: before the war began, we were exactly the same – we lived our daily worries and seemed to not think about anything anymore. Now I am increasingly noting that what seemed so important in the past has become a trifle today, not worth energy or time. You want to do important and significant things. I try to make as many Ukrainian performers as possible to appear in Lithuania and spread Ukrainian culture. I very much hope that Lithuanian artists will soon have the opportunity to present their culture to the Ukrainians. We need to get to know each other better and it is best to do it in the cultural area. And returning to the concert, Bucha. Lacrimosa ” – for centuries, I want to wish that it would not become just a regular performance for listeners. I want everyone who will spend that night at the Kaunas State Philharmonic Hall will feel like one, big and harmonious family.

Who? Concert “Bucha. Lacrimosa ” – for the centuries

Where? Kaunas State Philharmonic Hall.

When? March 7 6 p.m.