In solidarity with the people of Ukraine and to support the Ukrainian community in London, the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall hosted Slava Ukraini - a specially curated night of music, poetry and spoken word.
Slava Ukraini featured a line-up of Ukrainian and British classical and contemporary musicians.
Performers included Kyiv-born Yuriy Yurchuk, Kharviv-born pianist Dinara Klintonl, mezzo-sopranos Kseniia Nikolaieva and Rozanna Madylus, Kazakh-British violinist Galya Bisengalieva and Rivne-born clarinettist Stefan Bulyha. The London Contemporary Orchestra also performed live, as well as producers Jon Hopkins and Leo Abrahams.
Ukrainian writers on the Slava Ukraini line-up included historian Dr Olesya Khromeychuk, author and writer Andrey Kurkov and poet, writer and essayist Serhiy Zhadan.
The night also included readings by Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning actor Ben Whishaw, Emmy-nominated actress Maisie Williams, Tony Award-winning actor Jonathan Pryce and Olivier Award-winning actress Juliet Stevenson.
Their readings included poetry by Odessa-born Ilya Kaminsky and screenwriter and playwright Lyuba Yakimchuk and poet, essayist and translator Ostap Slyvynsky.
All net proceeds and all further funds raised last night will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC’s) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
1. Dr Olesya Khromeychuk Director of the Ukrainian Institute
Dr Olesya Khromeychuk reads an extract from her book “A Loss: The Story of a Dead Soldier Told by His Sister" | Credit: Pete Woodhead
2. Actor Ben Whisaw at the Southbank-Centre
Ben Whishaw’s reads “N.N.” by Taras Shevchenko, translated by Vera Rich | Credit: Pete Woodhead
3. Royal Opera House principal artist Yuriy Yurchuk performs at the Southbank’s Royal Festival Hall
Royal Opera House principal artist Yuriy Yurchuk performs at the Southbank’s Royal Festival Hall | Credit: Pete Woodhead
4. Jon Hopkin and Leo Abrahams at the Southbank Centre
Producers Jon Hopkin and Leo Abrahams perform at the Slava Ukraini fundraiser | Credit: Pete Woodhead