Paris to Kyiv ensemble debuts in D.C. at Embassy of France (06/06/99)

Paris to Kyiv ensemble debuts in D.C. at Embassy of France

WASHINGTON - Alexis Kochan and her ensemble, Paris to Kyiv, made their Washington debut on April 29, under the sponsorship of The Washington Group Cultural Fund, presenting a program of Ukrainian songs at the Embassy of France.

TWG Cultural Fund Director Laryssa Lapychak Chopivsky opened the evening with a short history of French-Ukrainian relations, in which she pointed out that the French connection with Ukraine dates back almost a millennium to the Ukrainian Prince Yaroslav the Wise and one of his daughters, Princess Anna Yaroslavna, who married the French King Henry I.

Ms. Chopivsky recounted her trip to France, where she visited the beautiful medieval town of Senlis, just 40 kilometers from Paris, where Princess Anna lived and is believed to be buried. She explained that Anna Yaroslavna is a legend in this area and that the Senlis tourist brochure mentions "Anne of Kiev" because in 1060 she founded an abbey dedicated to St. Vincent, the patron saint of vineyards and winemakers. The vineyards flourished and brought prosperity and wealth to the Senlis area.

Ms. Chopivsky also noted also that Princess Anna Yaroslavna was apparently the only literate person in King Henry's court and signed many official documents "Queen Anna" in Cyrillic.

After this informative introduction, Ms. Chopivsky introduced and welcomed the musical ensemble Paris to Kyiv: Ukrainian Canadian vocalist Ms. Kochan, the renowned bandurist Julian Kytasty, jazz violist Richard Moody and multi-instrumentalist Martin College, who played the lute, sitar and Northumbrian pipes.

Ms. Kochan, who is a singer, teacher, producer and recording artist - and psychologist - introduced each of the songs on the program in her characteristically warm and engaging manner. These songs, in Ms. Kochan's own unique arrangements, capture the essence of tomorrow's Ukrainian spirit, interweaving pre-Christian ritual songs and fragments of medieval chant with contemporary influences.

Ms. Kochan recalled pre-Christian times in a beautiful schedrivka called "Pavochka." Introducing the song "Oy Khodyt Son Kolo Vikon," she mentioned the world tour of the famous Koshetz choir and its influence via songs such as this one, on the American composer George Gershwin.

With other songs like "Cross, Cradle and Tree" she illustrated the meeting of two genres: the secular and the sacred. In "Jerusalem Matins" by the Ukrainian composer Pavlo Matsenko from Winnipeg, Ms. Kochan underlined the influence of the Ukrainian folk song on sacred work. There were also samples of the kolomyika and lovely wedding songs.

The informal atmosphere on the stage, and the informative explanations and beautiful renditions of jewels of Ukrainian musical culture by Ms. Kochan made this a memorable experience for the audience of over 180 people who attended this special performance at La Maison Francaise.

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