Six weeks ago Maria Timofeeva and Victoria Stepanenko thought of having a charity concert in aid of Ukraine. Within the next three weeks philanthropist Judith Neilson, the City Recital Hall, Caritas Australia, four commercial organisations, fifteen musicians and a dozen volunteers were ready to promote Music for Ukraine. Three weeks later, April 27, almost 1000 people filled the City Recital Hall and heard an amazing gala concert. That’s six weeks from inception to concert! This amazing feat speaks of the support Sydney feels for Ukraine.
The engaging Vladimir Fanshil, a Ukrainian by birth and talented Australian musician, introduced the fifteen pieces played by Australia’s top classical musicians, playing Leonard Bernstein (whose grandparents were Ukrainian), Prokofiev (born in Ukraine), Handel, Rachmaninov, Bruch, Schubert, Puccini, Bellini and Mozart. Katie Noonan’s signature piece ‘Bluebird’ was accompanied by the Alma Moodie String Quartet. Noonan’s take on ‘Somewhere’ in Westside Story, accompanied by the wonderful Alice Giles on harp, sings the right sentiment: “There’ll be a new way of living” …. everyone hopes there will one day be a new way of living and humankind might grow up and grow out of warring.
Nick Russoniello’s sax rendition of Ukrainian Pequena Czarda’s famous ‘Itturalde’ was the outstanding edge-of-seat piece. Andrew Haveron’s violin floated Prokofiev and then Strauss out to the mesmerised audience. Other performers were tenor Andrew Goodwin, pianist Daniel de Borah, viola player Tobias Breider, soprano Eleanor Lyons, pianist Andrea Lam and baritone José Carbó – all wonderful.
The audience was rapt. The relaxed and jovial Masters of Ceremonies, Bonnie Boezeman and Vladimir Fanshil, the 15 musicians, and the volunteers generated a wonderful gala performance. The sponsors were Judith Neilson, Pacific Equity Partners, EY, Anania, Altina, and Vixin.
Caritas Ukraine has been operating in the country for many years and remains there now helping hundreds of thousands of people.
https://judithneilsonprojects.com.au
https://www.cityrecitalhall.com
