It wasn’t a typical Carnegie Hall chorus: famed pianist Evgeny Kissin read from a piece of paper while singing Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere” to a gathering that included actor Richard Gere, vocals soprano Isabel Leonard and Broadway Star Adrienne Warren.
But there they were – four members of the full company took part in a Monday night benefit concert in support of Ukraine, a series of powerhouse stars sang on stage as members of the Ukrainian Choir Dumka of New York joined from the aisle.
“Hold my hand and I’ll take you there,” they sing. “Somehow. Someday. Somewhere.”
It was such a night at Carnegie Hall, when artists from many disciplines and the organization itself came together to speak out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and show solidarity with its victims.
The Ukrainian Dumka Choir, an amateur band specializing in secular and sacred music from Ukraine, opened the concert with the Ukrainian national anthem. Diplomats at home and abroad have thanked and talked about the power of art in times of crisis. Between songs, soprano Denyce Graves pauses and chokes briefly as she talks about her husband, a doctor, who showed up just a day after returning from Ukraine, where he had helped with medical care. .
And there was a message from the first lady of Ukraine.
“Music heals and inspires, music promotes hope and confidence,” said First Lady Olena Zelenska. “Today’s event is a reminder that Ukraine is an integral part of world culture.”
“Music on this stage is a separate important victory,” she added. “It is a sign of the unity of our cultures against the chaos and pain of war. And all of you in this hall today are our true and effective allies in this cultural struggle.”
The evening included more than a dozen artists and ensembles. There is a performance by a jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, violinist Midori, singer Michael Feinstein, soprano Angel Blue and Broadway singer Jessica Vosk. Kissin appeared at the end of the program – first with violinist Itzhak Perlman playing John Williams’ Theme from “Schindler’s List”, then playing Chopin’s Scherzo No. 2 alone.
In an interview with The New York Times before the concert, Mr. Kissin said that playing ball for the sake of it felt “so natural to me that I couldn’t even call it a decision.”
“Unfortunately, I’m too old and unfit to take up arms and go to war in Ukraine, so I’m doing everything I can: sending money and giving concerts to Ukraine,” he said. “As a Jew born and raised in Russia, I, as one of the biggest victims of xenophobia in Russia, have always felt in solidarity with all its other victims, including Ukrainians.”
How did the Ukraine war affect the cultural world?
Monday’s gains represent Carnegie’s latest attempt to use his platform to publicly support Ukraine. For this season, Carnegie Hall was originally intended to feature the work of Valery Gergiev, the Russian conductor and prominent supporter of Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, who had planned to host a series of concerts. concerts in the hall with both the Vienna Philharmonic. and the Mariinsky Orchestra. But it canceled those commitments after Russia invaded Ukraine, becoming one of the first cultural institutions Fire artists have a strong relationship with Mr. Putin.
Carnegie plans host Ukraine’s Lviv National Symphony Orchestra next season.
Several similar interests for Ukraine have been organized by New York art groups. In March, the Metropolitan Opera House staged a concert featuring the Ukrainian national anthem and a piece by Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov, among others. The Met has also helped organize what is known as the Ukraine Freedom Orchestra for a tour scheduled for this summer.
The New York Philharmonic plans to honor the Ukrainian people at an upcoming Memorial Day concert, and raise funds with the International Rescue Committee.
Carnegie Hall says proceeds from Monday’s concert will go to Direct Reliefa humanitarian aid group supporting relief efforts in Ukraine.
As the concert closed with the company-wide finale, a man sitting in the center area of the wooden floor could barely contain his enthusiasm and fervent emotions. Before the members of the Ukrainian choir could make their way back down the aisle, he rose from his seat and reached out to grab one of the choir members’ shoulders in a gesture of appreciation.
