This program traces a vivid arc through contemporary Ukrainian musical imagination — from folk-rooted lyricism to mystical abstraction and playful wit. Borys Lyatoshynsky’s String Quartet on Ukrainian Themes opens with the voice of a nation, weaving ancient melodies into a modern harmonic fabric of yearning and resilience. Victoria Poleva’s Simurgh-Quintet ascends into the spiritual — a radiant, meditative soundscape inspired by the mythical bird’s journey toward unity and transcendence. In Drop After Drop, Maxim Shalygin crafts a hypnotic dialogue for piano four hands, where cascading textures evoke the quiet persistence of time and memory. Finally, Borys Fedorov’s Tango from the Pierre Richard Suite closes the program with wit and charm — a sly wink amid the introspection, reminding us of the Ukrainian spirit’s playfulness alongside its depth.

Program:

Borys Lyatoshynsky, String Quartet on Ukrainian Themes

Victoria Poleva, “Simurgh-Quintet” for Piano Quintet

Valentin Silvestrov, 5 Pieces for Violin and Piano

Mykola Lysenko, Elegy for cello and piano

Maxim Shalygin, “Drop After Drop” for piano 4 hands

Borys Fedorov, “Tango” from the Pierre Richard Suite