National Choir of Ukraine “DUMKA”
ARTISTS
Founded in 1920, the National Choir of Ukraine “DUMKA” from Kyiv is one of the oldest choral ensembles of Ukraine.
The National Choir of Ukraine “DUMKA” from Kyiv is one of the oldest choral ensembles of Ukraine. Founded in 1920, it quickly became the leading choir in its country. For its achievements, in 1981 it was awarded the Taras Shevchenko Prize, the highest state award in the field of culture.
The National Choir of Ukraine “DUMKA.” Photo: Mykola Trofimov
The first and long-time conductor of “DUMKA” was Nestor Horodowenko (1919-37). Significant contributions to the development of the ensemble were also made by his successors – Oleksandr Soroka (1946-64), Pavlo Muravsky (1964-69), Mykhailo Krechko (1969-83). Since 1984, the conductor and artistic director of “DUMKA” is Yevhen Savchuk. Under his leadership, the ensemble conducts very active concert activity. The choir gives a lot of concerts in Ukraine and abroad. The ensemble has performed in many European countries – Poland, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, as well as in the USA and Canada. It has performed at various important festivals, and has released a whole series of albums. The choir’s repertoire includes oratorio works by Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Shostakovich, Penderecki, as well as Ukrainian folk songs and Orthodox church music. “DUMKA” is also a kind of laboratory of Ukrainian contemporary composers. The choir was the first performer of works by Borys Lyatoshynsky, Levko Revutsky, Valentin Silvestrov, Yevhen Stankovych and others.
www.dumkacapella.com.ua