Music as a Messenger

Thinking about the Ukraine, mainly one thing comes to one’s mind: the still ongoing martial conflict. Even in the Ukrainians’ everyday life, politics is of great importance. Olena Nikolenko and her quartet are opposing this with their musical performance. This is not their primary intention, but they certainly have an influence on their audience’s perception of the Ukraine.

Furthermore, in our culture area, they are offering an extraordinary repertoire of music. For example, they are playing typical Ukrainian pieces but also pieces like “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen.

The quartet’s three musicians also chose an instrument that supports the Ukrainian and traditional style of the music they play. The “bandura” is similar to a concert harp, but instead of 46 strings it has 65. The quartet is completed by a violinist who is also a member of the “Lemberger Virtuosen”.

While the “Goldkehlchen” are fascinating their audience with their singing voices and musical know how, the quartet members are not unimpressed by the political situation in their home country, even though the conflicts are mainly taking place in the country’s east and not in the surroundings of Lemberg. It is remarkable how unburdened the group appears to be in the face of these conflicts. The members of the Stepping-Stone-Programme from the FESTIVAL YOUNG ARTISTS BAYREUTH could convince themselves of this attitude. The quartet, currently also travelling Germany to give a number of concerts, gave a spontaneous concert in the Festival’s conference centre which the Stepping Stone members accompanied with frenetic applause.

This year, the “Goldkehlchen” are not – like in earlier years – part of the Festival, but in the future they will certainly visit Bayreuth again.

Joshua Tsakmakidis
Translation by Sabine Uttinger