World-Famous Ukrainian ‘Shchedryk’ Performed for the First Time at Frankfurt’s Iconic Alte Oper

For the first time in history, the Ukrainian ‘Shchedryk’ was performed at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, one of Europe's most prominent concert halls. On 1 December, a symphonic evening of the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Lviv National Philharmonic under the baton of Icelandic conductor Gudni Emilson took place on the legendary stage.

This was announced by the Lviv Regional Council and the Lviv National Philharmonic. 

The concert in Frankfurt was part of the orchestra's tour of Germany and was the third and final in a series of planned events.

Among the world classics, the Ukrainian orchestra performed Symphony No. 9 or ‘From the New World’ by Antonin Dvorak, Leopold Mozart's ‘Sleigh Ride’ and, together with the soloist, a well-known Ukrainian violinist, Mark Komonko, Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto.

According to Mykhailo Sosnovsky, director of the symphony orchestra: ‘The previously announced musical programme was called a Christmas concert, so the performance of a true symbol of Christmas and the Ukrainian spirit - Mykola Leontovych's Shchedryk, arranged by contemporary Ukrainian composer Ivan Nebesny from the Christmas Symphonies cycle, was a true completion of the event and added to this special atmosphere.

We are extremely proud that this Ukrainian work was performed for about 2500 listeners. It is a great honour for us to perform in this hall, and even more so to represent Ukraine and raise the blue and yellow flag. It is nice that we were warmly welcomed here, and throughout the evening we felt unconditional support, which is very gratifying.’

The Lviv National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra has presented Ukraine in many world-famous concert halls: Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall (New York, USA), Stockholm Konserthuset (Stockholm, Sweden), Berliner Philharmoniker (Berlin, Germany), The Victoria Hall (Geneva, Switzerland), Cadogan Hall (London, England).

This year, the Alte Oper, a former opera house and now a concert hall and congress centre in Frankfurt am Main, was added to the list. The theatre opened on 20 October 1880 and became one of the main opera halls in Germany. Many world premieres have taken place on the opera stage. In 1944, during the Second World War, the opera was completely destroyed by bombing. The restored Old Opera House reopened on 28 August 1981.