Forbidden Melodies Concert
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by
editor
Canterbury for Ukraine is delighted to share that our special concert Forbidden Melodies which took place on Saturday, 8th March 2025 at St. Peter’s Methodist Church, Canterbury was a tremendous success.
The event, which deliberately coincided with Shevchenko Days, brought to life the beauty of Ukrainian music which was silenced, persecuted, or forgotten under Russian and Soviet imperialism. The concert hall was completely filled with both Ukrainian and British attendees of all ages, including families with children.
The true jewels of the concert were our special guests, who magnificently enhanced the programme with their artistry:
– Opera singers Tamara Ravenhill and Stephen Cviic from Rose Opera
– Violist Iryna Andriienko
– Pianist Richard Black
As Olena Nizalova, Chair of the C4U Ladies’ Choir and C4U Trustee, explained: “This programme was born in my heart and mind back in the spring of 2022, when our Ladies’ Choir was created. Picking the songs for our repertoire, I started realising how Russian Empire and later Soviet Regime were persecuting Ukrainian nation even through music – through execution and imprisonment of poets and composers, kidnapping and torturing singers, twisting songs with patriotic meaning into profane pieces, removing mentioning of God from other masterpieces”.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with Canterbury City Council as the lead authority, for their crucial support in making this event possible.
Our heartfelt thanks also go to everyone who worked tirelessly to organise this concert, our special guest performers who brought these silenced melodies back to life, our dedicated volunteers, and most importantly, to all who attended and generously donated to support vital humanitarian projects in Ukraine.
Canterbury for Ukraine remains committed to preserving Ukrainian cultural heritage while providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
