Second edition of Ukrainian Spring festival opens in Stockholm – photo

The second consecutive European Festival: Ukrainian Spring kicked out on 24 April at Sweden's premier performance stage, the Royal Concert Hall. This was reported by the press service of the event to Ukrainska Pravda. Culture.

The festival's first concert event began with a reception hosted by the German Embassy in Sweden. Representatives from Sweden's government and parliament, ambassadors from other countries, and cultural and popular celebrities all attended the opening ceremony.

Representatives from Sweden's government and parliament, ambassadors from other countries, and cultural and popular celebrities all attended the opening ceremony

The concept of the festival is to present Ukraine as an integral part of the common European cultural heritage.

"All of our efforts should be directed towards aiding Ukraine. Every cultural event should highlight the heinous crimes that Russia continues to commit on Ukrainian soil. Music cannot stop the invader, but arms can. It's important to remember every day that Ukraine is a natural part of Europe, not simply a voice," said the director of the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden, pianist Nataliia Pasichnyk.

The festival is organised with the coordination of the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden

At the opening concert, along with the vocal ensemble Calmus from Leipzig, she presented a new vision of the world-famous work by Johann Sebastian Bach, Well-Tempered Clavier – performed with religious texts and vocal arrangement.

Nataliia Pasichnyk together with the vocal ensemble Calmus performed the work of Johann Sebastian Bach Well-Tempered Clavier

Calmus vocalists underlined the importance and effectiveness of raising awareness about Ukraine through cultural activities.

"It obviously works when we continue to bring up Ukraine at our concerts. During our concerts since the start of the full-scale invasion, we sang ‘Prayer for Ukraine’ by Mykola Lysenko – ‘God, great, only.’ We sang it to inform people that ‘There is a war in Europe!’ We did it throughout the United States and wherever we appeared. I am certain that it really helps when we mix art with people's knowledge of what is happening," said Friedrich Bracks, one of the Calmus Ensemble participants.

Nataliia Pasichnyk with vocal ensemble Calmus

The organisers devoted the first musical day to the memory of opera vocalist Vasyl Slipak. He was a soloist at the National Opera in Paris who returned to defend Ukraine before being assassinated by a Russian sniper near Bakhmut on 29 June 2016. Every day of the festival is devoted to the artist-warrior who died on the front lines.

The festival will run until 7 May, and the grand finale will feature the world-famous Latvian violinist and conductor Gidon Kremer and his orchestra Kremerata Baltica.

The festival website contains the complete programme.

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