Citizens Of The World Choir & Friends Concert

SHCHEDRYK (Ukrainian Folk song)
Accompanied by the COTWC & violinist Àánu Sopide
Dancer | Choreographer: Depi Gorgogianni
Costume: Alegia Papageorgiou

Concert description: A captivating performance from the Citizens of the World Choir & Friends, showcasing unity and diversity through the unique voices and talents of choir members and special guests of over 28 nationalities.
Witness mesmerizing dance, powerful poetry, heartfelt duets and inspiring readings woven into a tapestry of artistic expression, as we're transported to different cultures through a programme of carefully curated music from around the world.
Made up of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and their allies, the Citizens of the World Choir honours the artistry, heritage and humanity of people seeking sanctuary. In the spirit of diversity and inclusion, the audience is invited to participate, allowing you to raise your voice alongside the choir. From renowned stages like the Royal Opera House to a performance at Glastonbury and collaborations with acclaimed artists, the journey of Citizens of the World Choir has been remarkable. Join them for an afternoon celebrating resilience and the transformative power of music.

From the speech by Becky Dell, Musical Director, Citizens of the World Choir:

We knew we wanted to respond musically to the horrifying news of war breaking out in Ukraine. We found a beautiful song and reached out for help on Twitter - it was lovely Deborah Meadon from Dragons Den who helped us and put us in touch with a woman called Tetyana - and Meg and I learned to speak our very first words of Ukrainian via Zoom!
Ukrainian has personally been the hardest language for me to learn to sing in 6 years, but I listened to it literally 200 times and then we passed on what we had learned to the choir - including on the coach on the way to our performance at Glastonbury - we needed all the practice we could get! But now we have a number of Ukrainian members who have helped us perfect our pronunciation! This next song is called Shchedryk, a Ukrainian folk song that became a rallying cry for peace and freedom during Ukraine’s bid for independence after World War I. You’ll recognise the tune which has become familiar as a Christmas song; but the Ukrainian words are very different: a song about a Little Swallow, welcoming in the new season.

Ticket link: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2023/event/citizens-of-the-world-choir

• Dates : Sunday 16th July 2023

• Location : Milton Court, Barbican Centre