Spectacular violinist coming to Canadian stages starting in Vancouver

One of the performers traveling across Canada this month with The Talents of Ukraine 2011 show tour is contemporary violinist Innesa Tymochko. Now a New Yorker, Innesa originally hails from Lviv, Ukraine where she studied music and launched a musical career that had her performing on stages throughout Europe.

In a recent interview on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio, she revealed that she was a child prodigy at age 6. While she studied classical violin, she was also enthralled by the beauty and power of traditional Ukrainian folk music. In fact she was so drawn to it that she developed her own "fusion" style of contemporary Ukrainian folk music.

With charming candour, she admits to an abiding love of Ukrainian folk music, the stage, and pleasing audiences with her music. This woman's joy of performing shines through the minute she first pulls the bow across the strings. She'll then take you on a musical journey that is guaranteed to pluck the heartstrings of any Ukrainian folk music lover.

This will be Innesa's first trip to Canada and she is very excited to be part of this tour. It starts out in Vancouver on Tuesday, October 11 at the Vancouver Center for the Performing Arts. After that it's on to Vernon for a Wednesday evening performance, then to other points east, wrapping up in Montréal on October 25.

If you haven't bought your tickets yet, don't wait a minute longer! This will be a show you don't want to miss.

Along with Innesa, you'll be delighted with the performances of two outstanding singers from Ukraine as well as the spectacular Donbas Song and Dance Company of Ukraine. Tickets for the performances in Western Canada can be purchased from Ticketmaster, and elsewhere from the venues where the show is being held. Details at the Boen Arts website and in earlier posts (here and here). 

Innesa has her own website which is www.innesa.com and you can read more about her and order her CDs there.

Meanwhile, I found a few YouTube videos of Innesa performing. They’ll give you an idea of her onstage charisma. But there’s nothing like the real thing! So I hope you'll join me in seeing her perform live on stage in Vancouver... or at a venue close to you.

This is Vivaldi's Storm, which opened the show we chatted on:



This is her performing Podolianka at her own wedding.



...and someone else's wedding (where she puts me in mind of the late Al Czerny):



For those earlybirds amongst us, here she is doing a medley of Ukrainian Christmas tunes:



And one more medley of Ukrainian folk tunes:

See you at the show!

Theresa Sokyrka - Ukrainian Canadian Idol

An absolute joy to listen to, and talk with! If you missed the interview with Theresa Sokyrka on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio a couple of weeks ago, or would like to hear it again, you can catch it on the Interviews page at the Nash Holos website.

We chatted about her music career, her Ukrainian roots, her experience on Canadian Idol, and other things.

Many thanks to Theresa for the interview. I was unfortunately unable to take in her live performance in Parksville (minor surgery the day before) and hope to get a chance to chat with her in person next time she's on the Island.

In the meantime, enjoy these videos I found of her on YouTube:

Ukraine's answer to Benny Hill?

Baritone Michael Minsky's Ukrainian recordings: A historical treasure

Michael Minsky was a brilliant opera star who sang in virtually every major concert hall in the United States.



Michael Minsky. Photo/portrait from CD cover:
Bandura: Michael Minsky, songs of a Don Cossack

Born in Russia in 1918, Minsky studied music at the University of Kazan and the Moscow conservatory. When WWII broke out, however, he was drafted into the Red Army and was soon captured by the Nazis.

He ended up in a slave labour camp and then in several “displaced persons” (refugee) camps after the war.

Although ethnically Russian, in the camps he was surrounded by Ukrainians and soon fell in love with the people, the music and the culture.

He joined several choirs, including the Don Cossack Choir and the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. From 1948 to 1984 Minsky sang with such Ukrainian musical luminaries as Ivan Zadorozny, Volodymyr Bozyk and Hryhory Kytasty.

In 1949 Minsky and the Bandurist Chorus traveled to America, where they were received at the White House and performed many concerts.

In 1950 Minsky made his first recording and  went on to record another 20 with various Ukrainian artists, including songs of the Ukrainian Legion of World War I and the Ukrainian Underground Army. In 1953 he was granted American citizenship.

Minsky was very active in the Ukrainian community in the United States and Canada. In 1971 the Ukrainian community in Minneapolis honoured Minsky with a gala concert. Later that year he went on a concert tour to Ukrainian centers in Great Britain, then in 1972 to Australia. On his return to Europe he produced a series of records with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

By the mid 1960s, Minsky was spending most of his time in Europe. In 1978, he settled permanently in Zwolle, the Netherlands. Holland was where, in 1967, Minsky met his wife, Irina Jacoba.

Irina had no inkling of the prolific extent of her husband’s Ukrainian musical career ... until after his death in 1988. Astounded at the size of his repertoire, and realizing its historic significance, she took upon herself the gargantuan task of compiling and restoring the entire collection.
Somehow I ended up on Irina's bulk email list, and kept getting emails from her asking for help with the project.

Intrigued, I emailed her back a few times and finally connected with her by skype to get some details on the project and her progress so far.

What an incredible experience to encounter the fierce determination of this fascinating Dutch woman! Equally incredible was the story about her project and the love and devotion of her Russian husband for Ukrainian culture. (Interview on the this past Sunday's Vancouver edition of Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio. It will air again on the international edition this weekend on PCJ Radio. Archives on the Nash Holos and PCJ websites.)

Working with volunteers, Irina has almost achieved her goal of compiling and restoring all of Michael Minsky's Ukrainian recordings. However, she is still missing these items:

ARKA 405a
Гей, пластуни! Пісня закарпатських пластунів. Слова: С. Черкасенко. Музика – Я. Ярославенко М. Фоменко. Сольо: М. Мінський. М. Фоменко: ф-но.
Hey, boy scouts! Song of the transcarpathian boy scouts. Lyrics: S. Cherkasenko. Music: Ia. Iaroslavenko/M. Fomenko. M. Minsky, baritone. M. Fomenko, piano.

ARKA 405b
При ватрі. Пластова пісня. Слова: Ю. Старосольський. Музика: Я. Пясецький/М. Фоменко. М. Мінський, баритон. М. Фоменко, ф-но
By the Camp-Fire. Ukrainian scout song. Lyrics: Iuri Starosolsky. Music: Iuri Piasetsky, M. Fomenko. M. Minsky, baritone. M. Fomenko, piano.

BMP 101a
Іди від мене. Leave me.
BMP 101b
Гей, маршують вже повстанці. Marching freedom fighters.

Ансамбль бандуристів під орудою Стефана Ганушевського
Bandurist Ensemble under the direction of Stefan Hanushevsky

TREMBITA 300a
Забудь мене. Forget me.
TREMBITA 300b
Тихесенький вечір. Tranquil evening.

Музика: К. Стеценко. Сольо: М. Мінський.
Music: K. Stetsenko. Soloist: M. Minsky.

SEAGRAM, 29-9-1951 Archive nr. 2000.097.r002.4
Арія султана з опери Запорожець за Дунаєм
Sultan’s aria from the opera Kozak beyond the Danube

RUSALKA LP
М. Мінський співає українські пісні
M. Minsky sings in Ukrainian.

UCH 302a
Гомін села. Humming village.
UCH 302b
Сусідка. Neighbor girl.

Музика: А. Гнатишин. Солісти: Мінський і Сілецький
Хор Трембіта. Дириґент – Кирило Цепенда.
Music: A. Hnatyshyn. Soloists: Minsky and Siletsky.
Ukrainian choir Trembita. Kyryko Tsependa, conductor.

RCA 2220
У мене був коханий, рідний край. Музика : М. Лисенко
I once had a beloved homeland. Music: M. Lysenko

О, ще не всі умерли жалі.  Музика – Яків Степовий
Not all sorrows passed away.  Music: Iakiv Stepovyi

RCA 2221
Ще день, чи два – аріосо з опери Кармелюк. Музика: В. Костенко
A day, or two – arioso from the opera Karmeliuk. Music: V. Kostenko.

RCA 2222
Як стрільці йшли з України. Музика: Р. Купчинський/М. Фоменко
When the freedom fighters left Ukraine. Music: R. Kupchynsky/M.Fomenko

RCA 2223
Мав я раз дівчиноньку. Мізика: Р. Купчинський М. Фоменко
I had a sweetheart, once. Music: R. Kupchynskyi/M. Fomenko
Альбом з двох плит. Богдан Пюрко при фортепіані
Two record album. Bohdan Piurko, piano.

Irina is appealing to the public to help her complete this collection of Michael Minsky’s restored Ukrainian works. She’s hoping that whoever might have these items would be willing to donate (or even sell) them to her. If you or someone you know has any of them, please contact Irina by email to make arrangements.

(Sources: Wikipedia, Antonio Hopla, Irina Jacoba on Nash Holos.)

Goodbye to Ken Kostick, Ukrainian Canadian star of Food Network Canada

I was saddened to read this article today announcing the death of Ukrainian Canadian TV personality chef Ken Kostick at age 58. He died Thursday at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto from complications arising after a battle with acute pancreatitis this past February.

The Winnipeg-born celebrity chef was best known

Nash Holos - Feb. 20, 2011

The podcast of this week's edition Nash Holos is now available for download!

• Kultural Capsule with Vasyl Pawlowsky features Stepan Pasicznyk (Ludwig), former accordionist with The Ukrainians and now with The Ukes

• A Spiritual Moment of Ukrainian Christian Heritage with Fr. Ihor Kutash of Montreal

• Ukrainian proverb of the week

• Upcoming events in BC’s Ukrainian community

• Plenty of great Ukrainian music!

Enjoy!

Ukrainian folk group Zubrivka at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival

Here's the schedule for their festival performances:

Saturday, September 18 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm EDT
Sunday, September 19 from 3:30 – 4:00 pm EDT

Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival
2440 Bloor St. W
Toronto ON

This TV special about them is in Ukrainian but even if you don't understand the language, you'll understand the universal language of the music.

Enjoy!

Astounding talent - virtuoso violinist Vasyl Popadiuk

If you are anywhere near Toronto this coming weekend, do not miss the chance to see this amazing musician perform live.

I have a couple of his CDs... which get a fair bit of airplay on Nash Holos. They are incredible enough as it is, but no comparison to seeing him on stage. So if you haen't yet, you can only imagine!

The first time I saw him was back in 1993, in Vancouver's Centennial Theatre. At the time he was with the Hopak Ukrainian Folk Dance Company of Ukraine. The troupe disbanded shortly thereafter, presumably due to a good number of members falling in love with Canada and deciding to stay.

However, the show was, in a word, spectacular. One of the acts was this young man sawing away on a violin ... and the way the hairs stood up on the back of my neck, I just knew that wouldn't be last I'd see or hear of him.

He settled in Toronto, where he developed a cabaret act calling himself Papa Duke. I'm told he has since recently relocated to Ottawa.
An earlier post I did on him just ahead of his concert in Hamilton last year featured a few videos of him performing.

Here's another one:

Mad Heads - Toronto Ukrainian Festival headliner act

My first exposure to this fabulous video and song was in Crystal Lake, Saskatchewan, at the Adult Ukrainian Language Immersion Camp my sister and I attended a few years back.

Presumably Mad Heads will be performing it at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival this coming weekend.

If you can't make it to the festival to see Mad Heads perform live, or you just love hearing the song and watching the video, here you go.

Enjoy!

See Dunai at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival

Here's a sneak peek of what Dunai may have in store for you this coming weekend at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival.

They're playing a traditional Ukrainian folksong, Yikhaly Kozaky (Їхали Козаки), actually quite a gruesome and tragic tale played in a very upbeat polka style ... which is the norm for this song btw.

Well, who said Ukrainians don't have a sense of humour? OK it can be somewhat twisted at times but, what they hey. If you can't laugh what's the point of being alive?

For the Ukrainian-impaired, they give the plotline in English before they start playing.

Enjoy!

Nash Holos podcast and audio archives updated for this week

For those who didn't catch the program when it aired on Sunday, visit the Nash Holos website for the podcast!

Here's what's on:

• Meylakh Sheyket, of the Jewish Heritage Museum in Lviv, Ukraine, talks about he month of Elul on the Jewish calendar, and how it is observed by the Jewish community in Ukraine.
• Vasyl Pawlowsky presents another Kultural Capsule on the Montreal Ukrainian Festival which took place last weekend.
• Irena Bell, of the Ukrainian Hour Radio Program in Ottawa, profiles Martha Bielish, the first female Ukrainian Canadian senator

This week's music mix features several acts who will be performing at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival this coming weekend, including psychobilly band Mad Heads XL from Ukraine, folk group Zubrivka from Toronto, virtuoso violisnist Vasyl Popadiuk of Ottawa, and folk rock band Dunai from Ajax, Ontario

I'll be posting a few videos of these acts that I particularly like. Here's one by Mad Heads.

Enjoy!

Ukraine's Eurovision near-wins

On last Sunday's radio program (international edition) I played Ukraine's 2007 and 2008 entries. The latter was a request from a new listener in Japan, and I thought it would be fun to play them back to back. Both years, Ukraine came second in the Eurovision contest.

There was a very lively discussion on this blog back in 2008 about these artists and the direction Ukrainian music has been taking. You can check it out here, but in the meantime, here's the wild and crazy 2007 entry.

Cheremshyna - Ukrainian Canadian trio from Montreal

On the August 22 show, Vasyl did a Kultural Capsule feature on Cheremshyna, a female vocal trio from Montreal.

These gals have been on the Ukrainian Canadian music scene for several decades, and while they've slowed down a bit on the recording side of things, they're still making the rounds of local festivals and events.

Cheremshyna became very well known in the days before the internet and social media, when networking was done face to face ... and maybe over the phone with a little help from the Ukrainian BBC, i.e., Баба Бабі Сказала (Granny told Granny).

Of course musical excellence may have also played a contributing role in their popularity!

In the 1980s and 90s they released several albums ... Volumes 1, 2 and 3 on vinyl (and cassette) and then on CD The Best of Cheremshyna and По Стежках Мрії (Along Paths of a Dream). They also released a wonderful Ukrainian Christmas album back in the 80s with a bunch of other local performers. It originally came out on vinyl and is currently available on CD at Yevshan, along with their "Best of" CD.

Unfortunately, Cheremshyna doesn't have a website, but I did manage to find this YouTube video someone put together online. It's a slideshow with one of their recordings in the background...Ой там за лісочком (Oy tam za lisochkom) which means "there beyond the woods."

Enjoy!

Zakuska Polka

Stompin' Tom Conners' ode to the Ukrainian Canadian community was featured on Nash Holos last Sunday, July 25. It was performed by the Kubasonics... and the song followed a rather accurate if brief re-enactment of an after-dinner scenario at a traditional Ukrainian hall gathering.

For the Ukrainian-impaired, here are some translations so you can know what you are saying as you sing along:

Samahonka = home brew
Kubasa = garlic sausage
Perogy = pierogi, pyrohy, stuffed dumpling, button
Borsch = beet soup
Polka = very energetic traditional dance
Zakuska = appetizer

Here are the lyrics to Zakuska Polka :

Upupupup, Papa, upupupup!
Come up and dance Mama,upupupup!
Samahonka! Put some in cup!
Upupupup,upupupup!
Upupupup,upupupup!

Come up and dance, and when you wish,
You could eat one, pickled fish!
Maybe cabbage roll, perogy, kubasa,
Maybe bowl of borsch, and polka!

Zakuska polka, she's very fine,
Sometime we dance, sometime we dine.
Sometime we drink, eep! Too much wine!
But, Zakuska's good anytime!

Upupupup, Papa, upupupup!
Come up and dance Mama,upupupup!
Samahonka! Put some in cup!
Upupupup,upupupup!
Upupupup,upupupup!

Come up and dance, and when you wish,
You could eat one, pickled fish!
Maybe cabbage roll, perogy, kubasa,
Maybe bowl of borsch, and polka!

Zakuska polka, she's very fine,
Sometime we dance, sometime we dine.
Sometime we drink, eep! Too much wine!
But, Zakuska's good anytime!

Upupupup, Papa, upupupup!
Come up and dance Mama,upupupup!
Samahonka! Put some in cup!
Upupupup,upupupup!
Upupupup,upupupup!

Zakuska!

Welcome Team Ukraine!

A warm (literally!) west coast welcome to Team Ukraine, which consists of 47 athletes, 34 coaches and personnel, and 9 physicians.

These are the athletes:

Biathlon

Men: Andriy Deryzemlya, Sergiy Sednev, Sergiy Semyonov, Oleaxnder Bilanenko and Vyacheslav Derkach
Women: Oksana Khvostenko, Lilia Vayhina-Efremova, Vita Semerenko, Valentyna Semerenko, Olena Pidhrushna and Ludmyla Pysarenko

Figure Skating

Pairs: Tetiana Volosozhar - Stanislav Morozov, Kateryna Kostenko - Roman Talan;
Dancers: Anna Zadorozhniuk - Serhiy Verbillo
Single skating: Anton Kovalevskyi

Cross-Country (Nordic) Skiing

Women: Valentyna Shevchenko, Maryna Antsybor, Vita Yakymchuk, Kateryna Hryhorenko

Ski Jumping

Vitaly Shumbarets, Volodymyr Boshchuk, Olexandr Lazarevych

Nordic Combined

Volodymyr Trachuk

Luge

Single: Women - Natalia Yakushenko, Liliya Ludan
Pair: Andriy Kis - Yuriy Hayduk, Taras Senkiv - Roman Zakharkiv

Freestyle

Women: Olha Volkova, Nadiya Didenko, Olha Polyuk
Men: Olexander Abramenko, Enver Ablaev, Stanislav Kravchuk

Alpine Skiing

Women: Bohdana Matsotska, Anastasiya Scryabina, Tetiana Zavaliy, Lada Nesterenko, Roman Leibiuk and Oleksandr Putsko
Men: Rostyslav Feshchuk

Snowboard

Annamari Chundak and Yosyp Peniak

In reserve:

Alla Beknazarova (figure skating), Maryna Halaydzhyan (Luge), Volodymyr Zuev (figure skating), Sergiy Lifirenko (short track), Roman Prima (biathlon), Inna Suprun (biathlon).

Best wishes to all for stellar performances!

If you’re in Vancouver, drop in to Ukraine House and watch the televised events on big screen TV. While you’re there, indulge in some traditional Ukrainian food and beverages (like Obolon beer and Khortytsia vodka), and keep your eye out for Olympic athletes who may be milling about while not on the slopes or the ice.

Ukraine House is located in St. Mary’s Ukrainian Centre at 3150 Ash St. in Vancouver, near Cambie and 16th. Admission is free. For hours of operation and more details visit the Ukraine House website.

Ukraine House at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics

Ukraine House will be the place to spend your time during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver!

Why's that? Because you can:

• Meet new friends from all around the world
• Mingle with Ukrainian athletes and celebrities
• Catch coverage of Olympic events on large screen TV
• Take in stage performances by entertainers from Ukraine and Canada
• Enjoy Ukrainian food and alcoholic beverages
• Participate in an an auction of sports memorabilia - including the runners worn by pole-vaulter, Sergei Bubka, when he set the world record
• Purchase souvenirs as well as Team Ukraine athletic clothing
• Kick up your heels at the Youth Dance (Zabava)
• Strut your stuff at the Ukrainian Olympic Ball
• Create memories of a lifetime at this world-class fun event

Ukraine House, under the patronage of the Embassy of Ukraine, the Canadian Ukrainian Congress and Canadian Friends of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee, will be officially opened on February 11, 2010. It will be located at the Ukrainian Catholic Centre, 3150 Ash Street in Vancouver. (Enter from W 16th Ave, 1 block west of Cambie.)
Ukraine House will be open to the public every day during the Olympics (except for three days that are reserved for private functions: Thursday February 11, Sunday February 14 and Monday February 15, 2010). There's plenty of parking and ready access by public transit.

Organizers are looking for volunteers to help staff Ukraine House. No experience required. The workload and time commitment will be much less than for official VANOC events ... and you'll still be in the centre of the fun and excitement of the Olympics!

To sign up as a volunteer, or if you have a room available to billet an out-of-towner helping with the Olympics, please contact Mirko Petriw by email.

Stay tuned for more information about Ukraine House at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics!

Gogol Bordello coming to Vancouver

The punk rock band Gogol Bordello will be back in Lotusland on October 9 and 1oth, performing at the Vogue Theatre, 918 Granville St., Vancouver.

The group's lead man is Eugene Hutz, and I have to admit I found him brilliant in the movie Everything is Illluminated.



From what I can tell his most recent performance on the silver screen will be similarly brilliant. Although I am not a fan of punk, I find Hutz utterly fascinating. There is no denying he is an incredible performer and a very smart and savvy businessman. In an interview for Backpack Rock, I also found him very thoughtful and dedicated to his art. He seems like quite a well-rounded guy.

I've never been a big fan of Madonna (altho I do adore her "Spanish Lullaby") but there is no denying she is a brilliant businesswoman and self-promoter as well (to understate the obvious). This movie (which is her directing debut), is custom-made for Hutz... seedy but thought provoking.



As for Gogol Bordello's music, apart from the profanity, I find it fascinating and thought-provoking as well. It's high-energy and highly irreverent, and along with their outstanding musicianship, it's no surprise the group has such a rabidly loyal, and sizable, following.

I suspect, however, that many of their fans in North America may be missing some of the cultural nuances in their lyrics. For example, I wonder how many mainstream Americans and Canadians can relate to this song as well as those of Ukrainian and East European heritage can:



Gotta give Hutz credit for giving American culture a big poke in the eye, and making money in the process!

Speaking of which, tickets for Gogol Bordello are available at Ticketmaster. It's probably a good idea to order them soon...

Mlada - exciting young artist from Ukraine

When I went to Mlada's website to get the link to her website for this post, I was suprised and utterly delighted to find that she has released a whole new album.

I'll always remember the story of how I lucked out in learning about this fabulous young singer. Vasyl, author of the wonderful UAMuzik blog, mentioned that he was out and about somewhere, and as he was getting off (or on?) a bus, this young girl came and thrust a CD in his hand. From there, he generously shared what info he had on her, including her website.

Unfortunately, the tracks for this album are samples rather than the full tracks, but with any luck I'll eventually get my hands on a copy. In which case I'll let you know where you can get one too. Stay tuned!

This song has received a fair bit of airplay on Nash Holos. It was last featured on the August 30, 2009 broadcast.

Sonia sings "from the heart" in Ukrainian and English

One of the tunes on last Sunday's broadcast of Nash Holos was sung by a lovely American country singer by the name of Sonia Lee. To the Ukrainian community, she is simply "Sonia."

Sonia recorded her CD, Від Щерого Серця (From the Heart) to honour her Ukrainian roots and her love of singing. She tells a bit of her personal story, including her struggle with substance abuse, in the liner notes of her CD, on her website, and also in this delightful promo video:

Ukrainian artist: Sofia Rotaru

Last Sunday's program featured two songs by Sofia Rotaru.

Водограй (Vodohraj - Dance of the Water Fountain), from an LP produced shortly after the KGB murdered the popular singer/songwriter Volodymyr Ivasiuk in 1979. The album was a tribute to Ivasiuk and featured a number of singers and groups who recorded his music. Rotaru was one of them.

According to Wikipedia, this song won the Best Song of the Year award of the Soviet Union in 1972. There's a nice YouTube video featuring a slide show of photos of Sofia Rotaru here. (Embedding has been disabled by request, so I can only direct you to the YouTube site.) The photos are from various stages of her long and prolific career as a stage performer and recording artist.

Водограй was performed by other artists as well as Rotaru. Here's a black & white video of Smerichka performing it at what looks to be a variety show sometime during the Soviet era.



Одна Калина (Odna Kalyna, which means one, or single, kalyna tree) is a more contemporary release. It was very popular during Ukraine's Orange Revolution in 2004. I first saw the video at the Adult Ukrainian Language Immersion Camp in Crystal Lake, Saskatchewan a few years ago. I love the harmonica intro (wish it was worked into more of the song) and the upbeat tempo. And the visuals in the video are gorgeous. We should all age as gracefully as Sofia Rotaru! She is truly gorgeous... not to mention a wonderful singer.