CHAMBER CHORUS

A chief leader of a chorus, a prizewinner of the all-Ukrainian chorus masters con-test, Andriy Syrotenko.

Traditions of concert chorus singing in Kharkiv philharmonic were founded as long ago as the thirties of XX century.
From 1936 a chapel under the direction of a famous Ukrainian chorus master O. Bryzchakha worked being attached to Kharkiv philharmonic. In 1938 it was headed by K. Hrechenko, in 1943 – by E. Konopliova, in 1944 -1945 – by H. Davydovs’kyi. In March of 1956 the chapel was reorganized in the Chorus of Ukrainian song, which existed till 1962, and then it was broken up.

History of the group, which performs in Kharkiv philharmonic nowadays, begins in 1980. At that time the Chamber chorus of a regional department of Ukrainian music society and regional culture administration was established on one of the most outstanding figures of the V’yacheslav Palkin National conductor-chorus school’ initiative. His performances became a considerable phenomenon in the music life of the city, beginning from his first concert (January, 1981). In 1980 years the chorus toured Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine, Moscow (Russia), Moldova, Latvia, Georgia, South Ossetia, being appreciated by music community in the best way everywhere. The chorus managed to get a philharmonic status due to intensive concert activity, professional performers and great repertory.

In July, 1991 the chorus for the first time performed as a chamber chorus of Kharkiv regional philharmonic.

The Chamber chorus is a prizewinner of the best prizes of The First M. Leon-tovych all-Ukrainian chorus contest (1989), The All-Ukrainian chorus contest (Dnipropetrovs’k city, 2001), The International contest “Khainovs’ki dni tserkov-nykh pisnespiviv” (Poland, 2005).

The chorus became a party to many art events:
International and all-Ukrainian festivals and suchlike projects: The First all-Ukrainian chorus assembly (Kyiv, 1993), creative project “Slobozchans’kyi Velykden” (Kyiv, 1996),2000 years of the Nativity and the Reformation Day


celebration (Germany, 2000),The VI Chorus-fest “Zolotoverkhyi Kyiv” (Kyiv, 2002), “T. Shevchenko prizewinners’ suzir’ya” (Kyiv, 2003), The all-Ukrainian chorus assembly by 130-years from Oleksandr Koshytsia’s birth (Kyiv, 2005) – at experts of arts and artistic groups of Kharkiv region concerts under review (Kyiv – 1999, 2001, 2004); as a guest of honour – to The all-Ukrainian chorus contest (Dnipropetrovs’k city, 2006) and to The International contest “Khainovs’ki dni tserkovnykh pisnespiviv” (Poland, 2006).

Concert programmes of the Chamber chorus are composed of works by Ukrainian composers L. Dychko, T. Kravtsov, M. Leontovych, M. Lysenko, E. Stank-ovych, K. Stetsenko, M. Stetsiun; Russian composers V. Gavrylin, M. Glinka, S. Rakhmaninov, S. Tanieyev, A. Shnitke; west-european composers I. S. Bach, G. Berlioz, K. M. Weber, O. Lasso, W. A. Mozart, F. Schubert et al.

The chamber chorus regularly gives concerts in the Pillared hall of the National philharmonic of Ukraine (1989, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003), it performs with sym-phony orchestras of the National philharmonic of Ukraine (Kyiv), Kharkiv and Belgorod philharmonics. Very famous conductors worked with the chorus. They are D. Sax and W. Gordania (the USA), A. Rameright (Austria), D. L. Jones (Great Britain), I. Cockars (Latvia), R. D. Young (South Korea), A. Kalabukhin, R. Kauf-mann, I. Palkin, Y. Yanko (Ukraine).

Experts draw attention to high vocal and scenic culture, wonderful singers’ voices. Nowadays, the chamber chorus of Kharkiv philharmonic is a bright phenomenon of modern music culture of Ukraine. It is a mobile creative group, which is able to perform with various styles and genres of choral music. Choral art devotees have an opportunity to listen to a lot of works performed by the Chamber chorus – both modern works and famous ones, interpreted in very interesting ways.

Discography:
1. “Petite messe sollennelle” G. Rossini, religious and folk music (2000)
2. “Spochatku bulo slovo” – exclusive double CD with music by D. Ellington with jazz musicians from St. Petersburg (Russia) - W. Feiertag and D. Holovoshchokin (2000).