The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Національний Симфонічний Оркестр України) is one of the principal orchestras of Ukraine.
It was founded in 1918 as Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra. Nathan Rachlin conducted the orchestra from 1937 until 1962. Subsequent directors included Stephan Turchak, Volodymyr Kozhukhar, Fyodor Glushchenko, and Igor Blazhkov. The American conductor Theodore Kuchar is the current artistic director, while the chief conductor has been Volodymyr Sirenko since 1999.
The orchestra was on tour in cities across the United States in 2017.
A tour of the United Kingdom (the orchestra's first visit there since 2001) was announced in 2022 to take place the following year (featuring soloists Antonii Baryshevskyi and Aleksey Semenenko), with the aim of promoting Ukrainian musical talent and culture amidst the Russian invasion of the country; two members of the orchestra were absent due to being conscripted to the military, and rehearsals and preparatory performances in Kyiv took place under restricted conditions.
Similarly, NSOU visited Taiwan for the first time in September 2023 and performed concerts in 3 cities. They opened their tour with a performance at Kaohsiung City Government Administration Center with Ukrainian National Anthem and a classic Taiwanese song. Their performances include "Grazhyna" Symphonic Poem by Borys Lyatoshynsky, Piano Concerto No. 1 by Frederic Chopin and Mazepa Symphonic Poem by Franz Liszt.
References
- Website with history in English
- "National Symphony Orchestra embarks on 44-concert tour of North America". The Ukrainian Weekly. January 13, 2017.
- Concertfix: National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Tour Dates 2017
- National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine announces UK tour, Rachel Hall, The Guardian, 12 October 2022
- After rehearsals interrupted by air raids, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine embarks on UK tour, Owen Mortimer, Classical Music Magazine, 16 October 2023 (subscription required)
- ^ "National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine to perform in 3 cities on its first visit to Taiwan". Formosa Television. 2023-09-10. Archived from the original on 2023-11-20.
They'll be performing from Sept. 11 to 13 at...Taichung...Kaohsiung...Taipei...affected by the war...the orchestra was forced to suspend performances. They later resumed. Even when air-raid sirens sounded, the orchestra continued playing to people hiding in the shelters.
- "Longing for peace - Taipei Times". Taipei Times. 2023-09-12. Archived from the original on 2023-11-20.
...Orchestra of Ukraine performs Ukraine's national anthem and a classic Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese) song, "Longing for the Spring Breeze," Bāng Chhun-hong at the Kaohsiung City Government's Siwei Administration Center yesterday morning.
- "Ukrainian national symphony orchestra arrives in Taiwan". Focus Taiwan. 2023-09-09. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25.
...Orchestra of Ukraine arrived on Saturday for their first performance in the country...perform concerts in Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Taipei...include Piano Concerto No. 1 by Frederic Chopin, "Grazhyna" Symphonic Ballade by Ukrainian composer Borys Lyatoshynsky, and Mazepa Symphonic Poem by Franz Liszt
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