Vyriy is the title of a work by Oleksandr Shymko, a sacred mystery that will be premiered in the Main Hall of the National Forum of Music, crowning the 57th International Festival Wratislavia Cantans. Its world premiere will feature ensembles important for Ukrainian culture: Bozhychi and the National Choir of Ukraine “Dumka”. The line-up also includes the NFM Choir The Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. The musicians will be conducted by Roman Rewakowicz, and the soprano part will be sung by Tetiana Zhuravel.

Born in 1977 in the Tarnopol Oblast, Oleksandr Shymko is a pianist and composer, who studied under Yuri Ishchenko at the National Academy of Music of Ukraine in Kyiv. Shymko’s work covers various genres, including compositions for symphonic and chamber line-ups, piano, vocal-instrumental and stage pieces, as well as theatre music. The artist often gives poetic titles to his works, which strongly resonates with their deep, romantic harmony and melodies.

Vyriy is a monumental oratorio for large mixed choir, ensemble of authentic voices, soprano and large symphony orchestra – about 150 performers. The composer used Orthodox texts, and the words of archaic folk songs, performed in an authentic manner, woven into the symphonic material of the piece. Vyriy unites on the one hand all the main Christian symbols (Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Mary), and on the other hand, the ancient and folk understanding of spiritual symbolism, including ideas about the creation of the world and life after death. Two spheres converge here – the sacred and the profane. “It is a large piece that will be the best culmination of the festival, with reference to the current situation we are experiencing,” emphasizes Giovanni Antonini, the festival’s Artistic Director.