Ukrainian Art Song Intensive 2024
Posted on August 19, 2024
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Ukrainian Art Song Project and the sixth time a summer intensive for young singers has been held in Toronto. The final concert on Sunday afternoon in Temerty Theatre was run on similar lines to the previous year. There was a piano in the middle of the room with the audience “in the round” and singers singing from different places in the room.
The programme was divided into two two halves. The first was songs about Nature.; the second songs of Dedication and a tribute to Ukraine’s national poet Taras Shevchenko. I’m not sure what to say about Ukrainian art song as a genre that I haven’t already said in previous years. The songs draw musically on the Western classical tradition (and mostly date from the 19th and early 20th century) with plenty of folk influence. They are beautiful but typically so sad that any hint of light is welcome! They reflect a grim reality but they provide excellent material for young voices. The duets are particularly effective…
