news

This journey began about 30 years ago, in a conversation with Professor Yaroslav Hrytsak,( with whom we met in line for a Polish visa,) I heard for the first time about Hasidic culture in Ukraine. (Mr. Yaroslav, by the way, also lent me a dictaphone for my first expedition trip in search of forgotten Ukrainian songs.)
The project "Our Singing for Babyn Yar" started for me with stories by Svetlana Kundish about the symbolism and significance of Nigun, about how singing together helps us to "lift our hearts“, overcome pain, „descent into darkness, for to be able to rise up."
Thank you, Yuriy, for ending the play with your statement that you feel yourself in Ukraine today better, than in the time, when we shared the fate of minorities in the USSR.
I will repeat again and again - the thoughts, questions, the hope voiced by me in the play - would not be possible without YOU! it is thanks to all of you, dear and dearest! To all who do not stop, are not afraid, do not agree. I bow my head to you and thank you for being in Kyiv at „the birth“ of the play.
It is symbolic for me that I started this year with the play "I want to live", around the poetry and fate of the young Selma Meerbaum, our "Anna Frank from Chernivtsi" (collaboration with Theater Lesi, Theater Neue Buhne and Futur 3). And I end this year with the play „Songs for Babyn Yar“.(Thank you dear people from Dash Arts!!!!)
I would like to emphasize with great pride and gratitude that this work was possible thanks to the support at all levels, thanks to trust and fight for it of the Ukrainian Institute and the Goethe Institute! The word "thank you" will not fit everything I feel! But THANK YOU!
A friend of mine from Warsaw, who could only see the show online, said how good it is to know that „the light is also active and flows into such projects!“ I also truly believe that it is our responsibility to be able to share OUR SINGING FOR BABY YAR over and over again. I believe it will happen!
The photo taken by dear Josephine Burton on December 7 in Babyn Yar reminded me of another trip, more than 20 years ago, with Victoria Hanna to Medzhibozh, Sataniv, Mykhailivtsi and Uman.
It is blessing to share this road with you!

I am almost a bit embarrassed - I am again so lucky to be part of such amazing project!
Yesterday we started rehearsals of Songs of Wounding curated by Elisa Erkelenz - Compositions of Max Andrzejewski around Ukrainian traditional songs. For a unique ensemble - barock string quartet, drums, double bass and electronics. Here is a real meeting of old and new music. Fantastic musicians!
Premiere on Thursday, December 2 in Berlin radialsystem Outernational: Songs of Wounding
And I already dream of further development in Ukraine . I dream about meeting of Max and Золтан Алмаші, James Banner and Mark Tokar, Marta Zapparoli and Alla Zagaykevych.
And between dreams - I rehears, because all the songs I chose for this work are for me also new. I never sung them before.
Who is in Berlin? Welcome

Longread-"diary"
I have a feeling that a huge amount of dark forces was gathering around this project (maybe it's because I recently saw again the movie "The Lost Letter“)
But really, until the last minute, there were lockdowns, problems with the coordination of our complex calendars, children's illnesses, and finally the f-ing Covid, which came so harmfully close, just before the premiere in London. Josephine Josephine Burton, I will never forget you, correcting our rehearsal , while staying outside, literally in the park… Without removing the mask for even a minute, despite the negative tests. Forgive me, please, for my panic reactions associated with exaggerated fear. This disgusting fear, which has settled in our lives along with the Covid, and which sometimes obscures rational thinking.
But now I know exactly what I was all this time hoping for. There are many angels around this project! And not only those mystical, but those very real, human. All those who fought, who did not give up, even when they were "cutting money" - thank you,Ukrainian Institute - Український інститут, thank you especially , dear Volodymyr Sheiko! Thank you dear Cristina Catalina!
Who appeared on the road and took over all organizational work!Melanka Piroschik, this is my tost to you! Huge thanks to our husbands, Andre, Patrick, Jeremy, who stayed home with the sick children, covering our backs and helping us "crystallize our thoughts.“
Thank you, Destiny, for allowing our roads to cross in this work - we have NEVER worked together before! This was one of the super-risks. But the key to honest work is a meeting of like-minded people who are not afraid to ask difficult questions, which are guided by "listening", "attentiveness", which allow souls to "become transparent", using the words of Marianna Kijanowska. I want to say more - but I'm afraid to roll beyond pathos. This is also one of the features of this work - try not to cross that pathos line.
Are there words to express what I feel, dear Svetlana Kundish, Yuriy Gurzhy, Josephine Burton, Yael Shavit, Cristina Catalina, Marie Blunck ??? Thank you as well to Tetyana Filevska, Anastasia Gaishenetc, Marina Pesenti…(hello, female power 😉
I can hardly think without emotion about all the dearest people who were with us "at birth“, watching online, but with us so close - our parents in Ukraine, Germany, Israel, USA, my friends Mary Kalyna from Philadelphia, Christian Herrmann from Cologne, the Piroschik Family from Leipzig, and many more, my first music teacher Irina Samoinovna from Israel. And - our dearest Rachil Blankman.
I believe, I hope, on December 7 we will be able to come to Babyn Yar and give our SONGS FOR BABYN YAR in Kyiv
 
  1. Songs for Babyn Yar -first review
  2. Songs for Babyn Yar -teaser
  3. Rehearsing "Songs of Babyn Yar" Project in Berlin 2
  4. 1934-Stimmen trailer 1

Page 16 of 28

fb yt sc