Press room

Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra/Keri-Lynn Wilson

The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra will bring their tour of Europe to a close at the Barbican in London a month today on Sunday 3 September 2023.

Led by their Canadian Ukrainian music director, Keri-Lynn Wilson, the orchestra, now under the patronage of Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, regroup this month for a tour of major European festivals and cities - in a continuing demonstration of Ukrainian artistry as the nation fights for its freedom. The 74-piece orchestra includes Ukrainian musicians from across the country, with some of the male members having received special permission from the Ukrainian government to serve their nation through their music, as well as Ukrainian refugee musicians and Ukrainian members of European orchestras. For the orchestra’s second year, after the success of its acclaimed inaugural tour in 2022, Ukrainian violinist Valeriy Sokolov will join as soloist for every concert on the tour, which includes another UK performance at Snape Maltings on Saturday 2 September 2023.

The orchestra’s musicians are drawn from the Kyiv National Opera, Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra, and Kharkiv Opera, among other Ukrainian ensembles. Outside of Ukraine, players come from ensembles including the Tonkunstler Orchestra of Vienna, Belgian National Orchestra, and Staatskapelle Berlin.

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska says: “The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra is the musical voice of Ukraine. Universal and understandable without translation, music is a language we can use to speak to the world. I invite you to attend the concerts of the UFO 2023 Summer Freedom Tour to hear the timeless message of liberty contained in the eternal classics of their programme. Music will speak to silence aggression.”

Programme:

Giuseppe Verdi - Overture to La Forza del Destino

Yevhen Stankovych - Violin Concerto No. 2

Myroslav Skoryk - Melody

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 3, Eroica