Ukrainian opera star featured in "God Bless America

Ukrainian opera star featured in "God Bless America - A Musical Salute"

GLENDALE, Calif. - The Ukrainian Choir Kobzar of Los Angeles and The Pasadena Community Orchestra presented a patriotic tribute on June 23 titled "God Bless America - A Musical Salute" here at The Alex Theater.

Famed Irish tenor Anthony Kearns was the featured performer, along with one of America's leading opera artists, Stefan Szkafarowsky of New York, and the television/film actor George Dzundza as master of ceremonies.

The benefit concert was sponsored by the Ukrainian Culture Center of Los Angeles. Anna Krawczuk, national commander of the Ukrainian American Veteran's, traveled from New Jersey to attend the concert and present an award to the Ukrainian Culture Center for its tribute and support of American veterans. The award was received by Mr. Bohdan Shpak, president of the Ukrainian Culture Center.

The proceeds from this event will benefit the children of our fallen heroes through the Freedom Alliance.

The following review by Lynette Crouse appears on Mr. Kearns' website, www.anthonykearns.tripod.com. (It is reprinted here with permission.)

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"An excellent group of performers shared the stage and delivered an exciting and passionate concert. Kobzar is made up of strong and talented voices under the direction of Greg Hallick. The Pasadena Community Orchestra, directed by Wayne Reinecke, is a fine ensemble and one of which the city of Pasadena should be proud. Mr. Hallick had the vision to invite Irish tenor Anthony Kearns as the featured artist, and was lucky enough to garner the support of Bass Stefan Szkafarowsky, as well.

From the moment they met at the hours-long rehearsal on June 22, respect and enjoyment took root between the performers and shone forth the next evening. Kearns remarked during the concert, "Everyone on this stage has a connection with Ukraine, with a Paddy stuck in the middle!" A Ukrainian Paddy, to be sure; at the end of the performance Mr. Kearns was presented with an Honorary Son of Ukraine Award by Bohdan Knianicky, president of the Kobzar Choir, which he received graciously: "Thank you very much, indeed." (In Irish, of course!)

His solo presentations ran the gamut from cute Irish ditty into sweeping tenor arias, carrying his delighted audience along with him through each and every genre: 17 solo pieces in all, besides the several he sang with the choir. Mr. Kearns paid a high tribute to his hosts: he learned a verse in Ukrainian to sing with the choir in his first appearance on stage for the evening: "O Lord, Thine is the Greatness," arranged by Hallick for this concert.

Mr. Szkafarowsky, a bass who has performed not only at the Met, but on many other opera stages worldwide, was a welcome addition to the program this evening. He sang two amazing Ukrainian pieces, and accompanied the choir for two others. He has an impressive range; [he is] a deep bass who can sing toward the higher baritone.

Mr. Szkafarowsky joined Mr. Kearns and the choir for "God Bless America." These two men were simpatico from the outset. Two powerful, trained, accomplished musicians so obviously enjoying the experience of singing together created magic!

This concert was the realization of a dream for concert promoter, choir director and arranger Greg Hallick. Through his perseverance and dedication, his choir hosted a stirring and patriotic evening; an evening quite rare and one which all in attendance felt genuinely honored to have attended.

Love of country, which some may call hackneyed, was dignified and glorious in this program. From the opening strains of "The Star Spangled Banner" clear through the encore of "God Bless America," these Ukrainian descendants' pride in America was lovingly expressed.

To end the first half, Mr. Hallick's dramatic arrangement of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" sung by his choir and Mr. Kearns, and preceded by George Dzundza's passionate recitation of "The Gettysburg Address," brought the house down.

Toward the end of the show, "The Stars and Stripes Forever" was played, along with a medley of songs celebrating each branch of the armed services. Members and previous members of each branch were asked to rise when their song was played and it created an intensely moving tribute.

This concert was a celebration of freedom, to say "thank you" to all serving and who have served, and to honor those who never came home. It was a celebration of the greatness of our great country narrated beautifully and dramatically by Mr. Dzundza during a moving rendition of the Gettysburg Address and the Emma Lazarus poem "New Collossus." A great lover of good music and a patriot at heart, he became quite swept away with the evening, calling for extra encores, and through his exuberance, receiving them!

Mairead Hurley superbly accompanied Mr. Kearns this evening. She was the repetiteur for "Faust" this past spring in Dublin in which Mr. Kearns sang the lead, and is a very talented and respected woman in the music world of Ireland. Accompanying Mr. Szkafarowsky's solo pieces was Matthew Bergey, nephew of Greg Hallick, and an accomplished pianist and piano instructor in the Midwest.

It would not surprise me in the least if one day in the near future we would again be treated to the dynamic combination of Kobzar, Kearns and Szkafarowsky, for such magic was created on that stage, it would be a tragedy indeed to never experience it again.

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