The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra's UFO's emotionally charged Warsaw performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 was one of the artistic highlights of 2023. Going beyond a normal concert, it was an artistic expression of solidarity with Ukraine in its time of struggle.
'unified, focused passion…make no mistake: The men and women of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra are fighting' – New York Times
'the quality of orchestral blend was extraordinary' – Guardian
'an assertion of civilisation against barbarism' – Daily Telegraph
Music has the power to overcome lingusic and cultural barriers to convey universal emotions. On the eve of the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Deutsche Grammophon releases a recording of UFO's poignant prformance of Beethoven's Ninth.
In this take on Beethoven’s final symphony, Ode to Joy is sung in Ukrainian. Further, in this new performance edition, UFO founder and music director Keri-Lynn Wilson changes Schiller's opening word 'Freude' (Joy) to the Ukrainian word 'Slava' (Glory) in a moving echo of Ukraine’s rallying call of resistance in the face of aggression, 'Slava Ukraini!' (Glory to Ukraine!).
The performance was given at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw during the inaugural concert of UFO's tour in August 2023. All proceeds of the project will go to the Olena Zelenska Foundation. Listen to the e-album here.
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor Op. 125
Performers: Vladyslav Buialskyi, Olga Kulchynska, Nicole Chirka, Dmytro Popov
Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir
Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra
Keri Lynn-Wilson
The 74-strong UFO was formed in 2022 by its founder and music director, Keri-Lynn Wilson, in coordination with the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture, the New York Metropolitan Opera and the Polish National Opera in Warsaw. It brings together the finest Ukrainian musicians from ensembles across the country, Ukrainian musicians who had become refugees abroad following the invasion and Ukrainian members of European orchestras. Its acclaimed tours in 2022 and 2023 took in leading venues across Europe and the United States, showcasing contemporary Ukrainian composers such as Silvestrov, Skoryk, and Stankovych alongside the greats of the wider European musical tradition. They were met with a rapturous and emotional public response, critical acclaim, and unprecedented media coverage.
