DNIPRO CHOIR PERFORMS AT THE STAGE OF NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE OF UKRAINE
December 20, 2016
On December 18, 2016, 12th anniversary charity concert devoted to St. Nicolas Day was held at the National Opera House of Ukraine.
Dnipro Choir has presented to the opera audience famous “Shchedryk” by Mykola Leontovych and American spiritual anthem “Amazing grace” arranged by A. Konzevich and A. Belousov. It was great honor for the choir to be accompanied by “Kyiv-Classic” orchestra led by Herman Makarenko, Honored Artist of Ukraine and UNESCO Artists for Peace.
This performance of “Shchedryk” was special for Dnipro singers. The history of the world-known tune reaches December 25, 1916, when on Christmas Eve the choir of St. Vololodymyr university premiered the famous “Shchedryk” with himself composer Mykola Leontovych conducting. 100 years later Dnipro Choir of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (former St. Vololodymyr university) fills the National Opera House of Ukraine with sounds of “Shchedryk”.
Dnipro Choir can not be more proud for being a part of the glorious history of “Shchedryk”. This song has become not only a symbol of Ukrainian cultural heritage, but a world-known symbol of Christmas.
Please see the video with performance of “Shchedryk” at the National Opera House of Ukraine here.
*From the history of “Shchedryk”:
In 1914, the composer Mykola Leontovych created the most popular choir arrangement of “Shchedryk”. On December 25, 1916, on Christmas Eve, the choir of St. Vololodymyr university premiered the famous “Shchedryk”, with himself composer Mykola Leontovych conducting.
In 1919, the choir conducted by Oleksander Koshyts headed on a tour to Western Europe. At the same time, the Ukrainian national government has fallen and Bolsheviks came to power. Oleksander Koshyts and some other chanters decided to stay abroad. In 1922, the chanters with their conductor moved to America. During almost 20 years they successfully performed in USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Cuba.
In October 1922 the first recording of “Shchedryk”, performed by the choir, was held in New York.
In 1936, Peter Wilhousky, American composer and ethnic Ukrainian, rearranged the melody of “Shchedryk” with his new English lyrics, and so the Christmas carol became known worldwide as “Carol of the Bells”.