On April 28, the team of the Organ Hall and the Ukrainian Live formation is preparing the premiere of a new orchestration of Mykhailo Verbytskyi’s music for Ivan Gushalevich’s play “The Highlanders”. In its time, namely from 1863 to the end of the 19th century, this work was a real hit, and Gushalevich’s melodrama was staged dozens of times in various cities of the Dnipro region, Poland, Lithuania and other neighboring countries.
“Verbytskyi “Highlanders” is an entire historical project of the Lviv Organ Hall, which brings back to life the music of Mykhailo Verbytskyi’s most successful play. The idea belongs to the team of the Lviv Organ Hall, which together with the musical organization Collegium Musicum has been conducting the Ukrainian Live strategy for many years. Its purpose is to spread Ukrainian classical music. Working with the work of Verbytskyi, who, among other things, is the author of the music for the National Anthem of Ukraine, was planned a long time ago.
“It is important to restore and preserve this work, to pass it on to future generations, as it is a testament to the beauty and richness of Ukrainian culture. In addition, through it you can show that Ukrainian music is interesting and relevant in the modern world,” says the director of the Organ Hall, Ivan Ostapovych.
The young Kharkiv composer Volodymyr Bogatyryov, who previously collaborated with the Lviv Organ Hall as a curator in the project “Music of Young Kharkiv Composers” jointly with the Kharkiv Conservatory, was engaged in the orchestration and editing of “Pidigiryan”. The orchestrated version of “Pidhiryan” emphasizes the traditions of Ukrainian music, giving listeners the opportunity to enjoy sophisticated melodies and unique timbres.
The performers of this musical evening and actually the creators of history will be the musicians of the Luhansk Symphony Orchestra and the “Homin” men’s choir conducted by Ivan Ostapovich.
“Our team collected all possible existing sources, analyzed them and used their musical expertise to make a complete reconstruction of the piece. We are trying to do everything possible to bring these lost masterpieces of Ukrainian music back to life,” comments Taras Demko, co-director of the Organ Hall and curator of this project.