The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, formed in 2022 under the baton of Canadian-Ukrainian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson, stands as a testament to the spirit of Ukraine’s musical community. Uniting musicians from within Ukraine and those in exile, they captivated audiences across prestigious venues worldwide, from the BBC Proms to New York’s Lincoln Center.

They open with Maxim Kolomiiets’ Suite from The Mothers of Kherson. This deeply moving contemporary work pays tribute to the strength and sorrow of all mothers enduring the ravages of war.

Wagner’s Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde explore the depths of love and transcendence. With orchestral textures and emotional intensity, soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen brings Wagner’s masterwork to life, whose voice effortlessly conveys Wagner’s vision of spiritual transformation.

Culminating in Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 5, from its iconic opening motif, famously described as ‘fate knocking at the door’, to its jubilant finale, the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra unleash the full emotional power of one of the most iconic and best-loved works in classical music.

Program:

Maxim Kolomiiets – Suite from The Mothers of Kherson

Richard Strauss – Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde (with Rachel Willis-Sørensen)

Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67