Strings of Our Hearts

A Christmas and New Year concert greeting from the Ukrainian community of Estonia.

When a full hall of Ukrainians and Estonians, adults and children, in the very heart of Tallinn stands and sincerely sings “Oi u luzi chervona kalyna” together, it is a small victory for Ukraine – for preserving Ukrainian culture, language, our identity and unity even beyond our homeland.

On Tuesday we all gathered for the festive concert “Strings of Our Hearts”, organised with the support of the Association and featuring incredibly talented Ukrainians who came to Estonia at different times.

That evening we were united by the wish to hear the enchanting singing of professional performers, ensembles and a choir, virtuoso playing on Ukrainian folk instruments and, even more, the wish to see our own people – family, friends, acquaintances, sincere people who rejoiced and cried with us, united by a common faith, a common pain and a common hope for peace and victory, for happiness for us and our children. All of us together in Estonia, no matter which corner of Ukraine we used to live in, no matter whether Ukrainian or native Estonian. Everyone like a big family gathered for a family celebration to thank and congratulate one another.

We sincerely thank our artists who created the atmosphere of the evening:

• Sofiia Kovalevska, who performed the piano piece “Waltz” (O. Nyzhankivskyi);
• the duo “Strings of the Soul”, Liudmyla Hramiak and Alona Duminika, who delighted and moved us with Ukrainian folk songs accompanied by bandura and domra;
• the choir “Oranta” of the Tallinn Ukrainian Orthodox Parish and its musical director Alona Duminika;
• Anastasiia Rodynchuk for a heartfelt performance of the Ukrainian song “Stork’s Fate” accompanied by Hanna Kharchenko;
• Tetiana Kychenko for songs that touched our souls, “Silent Night” (F. Gruber) and “When the Blue Mountains Fell Asleep” (A. Kos), accompanied by Sofiia Kovalevska;
• Liubov Prokopenko for a charming performance of the song “I Will Paint the Stars for You”;
• the choir “Ukraina” of the Prosvita society and its director Nataliia Tsvik for the world-famous “Shchedryk” by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych;
• host Yevhen Kravets for creating the warm atmosphere of the evening.

And everyone, everyone for singing together to the bandura the carol “Sumnyi sviatyi vechir” and the song “Oi u luzi chervona kalyna”.

Many thanks to the organisers of the concert and all its participants! We look forward to seeing you at our next evenings together!

Happy upcoming holidays!!!

Inna Hordiienko.