From Latin and accordion jazz to opera, piano concertos and theater, we present 10 arts events for the autumn that you won't want to miss.
Whatever it is, we’re headed for Kyiv’s theaters and concert halls in the next few months, and this is what we’ll see.
BALLET
“Chopiniana.”
About as pretty-pretty and romantic as ballet gets, the plotless “Chopiniana” is all nymphs floating in a sylvan glade to the charmed attentions of a poet – and to Chopin’s music. The dance, created in 1908 by Mikhail Fokine and adapted a year later by Sergei Diaghilev, is on the same bill as the “Carmen Suite.” Irina Gordychuk and Sergei Bondur are the soloists.
Kyiv State Musical Theater for Children and Youth (2 Mezhyhirska, 416-4280). October. Tickets Hr 2 to Hr 20.
CLASSICAL MUSIC
VIIth Int’l Vladimir Kraynev Invites Festival.
Pianist Vladimir Kraynev is as well-known as a mentor to young musicians as he is as a performer. For years he’s been holding these “Vladimir Kraynev Invites” concerts in Moscow, and now it’s Kyiv’s turn. A number of fine pianists will appear during this festival, which won’t involve only solo piano music: The event will close with a program of concertos for two pianos and orchestra.
National Philharmonic (2 Volodymyrsky Uzviz, 228-1697). October 9-16. Please call for ticket information.
JAZZ
Brazzaville.
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| Courtesy photo |
Straight out of Los Angeles, the cool jazz-pop ensemble, led by pencil-mustached hipster David Brown, sets down in Kyiv for a series of late-October dates. Brazzaville’s sound is touched with bossa nova, swing, and neat touches from a Farfisa organ; Brown’s lyrics, meanwhile, are clever and elliptical, as befitting those written by someone who’s worked with Beck.
Venue to be announced. October 21-26. Ticket prices TBA.
OPERA
Volodymyr Hrishko.
The great Ukrainian tenor returns to Kyiv in this solo concert, but that’s not all. Stay tuned, as the singer will in December unveil his “Volodymyr Hrishko Presents” festival, in which he’ll bring other first-rate singers to this town of ours, like the Belorussian Eduard Martinyuk and blond Russian crossover pop sensation Nikolai Baskov.
National Philharmonic (2 Volodymyrsky Uzviz, 228-1697). November 2. Ticket prices TBA.
KLEZMER
The Klezmatics.
One of the best downtown New York City bands, the Klezmatics have been playing their hip take on Yiddish klezmer music since emerging from the East Village scene almost 20 years ago. What’s klezmer? It’s that funky, ecstatic, danceable, Jewish music of Eastern and Central Europe, based on the accordion, the reed, the horn, and lots of percussion. Time Out New York called them one of the greatest bands on the planet on a good night, and we agree.
FreeDom (134 Frunze, 468-4068). November 12. Ticket prices TBA.
JAPANESE DRUMMING
Taikoshu Ikki.
The Japanese drumming troupe, bringing the energy of the land of the rising sun, and banging on their beautiful instruments, each of which is made from a single piece of wood of no less than 200 years of age. They’re stopping at Ukraine Palace during their six-week tour of Ukraine.
Ukraine Palace (103 Chervonoarmiyska, 247-2444). Nov. 14-15, 7 p.m. Ticket prices TBA.
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Yuriy Kot.
The fine Donetsk-born pianist comes to the relatively intimate confines of the National Philharmonic to do what he does best, which is play in the rapturous, romantic best style of Slavic pianists. His repertoire leans toward the lush – Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Scryabin, Prokofiev, Schumann – but he can also throw some Mozart or Bach in there to keep audiences on their toes.
National Philharmonic (2 Volodymyrsky Uzviz, 228-1697). Nov. 22. Please call for ticket information.
JAZZ
Richard Galliano.
Another world-class event comes to Kyiv, with the French jazz accordionist hitting the National Philharmonic. One of the great jazz improvisers, Galliano rages through music that can recall bop, French Impressionism and tango of the Astor Piazzolla variety – all the while being saturated in the French musette tradition.
National Philharmonic (2 Volodymyrsky Uzviz, 228-1697). Dec. 5. Please call for ticket information.
OPERA
“Mazepa.”
What could be more patriotic than going to see the opera “Mazepa,” based on the life of the legendary Cossack hetman? Even if it was written by one great Great Russian (Tchaikovsky) and based on a subtly anti-Ukrainian poem by another (Pushkin)? Seriously, though, this Tchaikovsky masterpiece is a thrilling and sometimes morbid mishmash of doomed romance, betrayal, violence and madness. Interesting production by Nikolai Hnatyuk.
National Opera Theater of Ukraine (40 Volodymyrska, 229-1169, 234-7165). December. Tickets Hr 2 to Hr 100.
GUITAR MUSIC
Kyiv 2004 1st Int’l Guitar Music Festival.
The Spanish guitarist and composer Jomme Torrent made a splash last spring in Kyiv, when he brought his solo act to the National Philharmonic. Now he’s back, and playing with three other talented guitarists: the young Italian Paolo Pegoraro and the Ukrainians Andriy Ostapenko and Oleh Boyko.
National Philharmonic (2 Volodymyrsky Uzviz, 228-1697). Dec. 16-18. Please call for ticket information.
Cultured Eats:
Where to Eat and Drink Around Kyiv’s Venues
KYIV STATE
MUSICAL THEATER FOR CHILDREN
AND YOUTH
San Tori
Japanese and Thai
41 Sahaidachnoho,
462-4994.
Marrakesh
Middle Eastern/Moroccan
24 Sahaidachnoho,
494-0494.
NATIONAL OPERA THEATER
OF UKRAINE
Brasserie
Le Cosmopolite
Belgian
47 Volodymyrska,
228-7278.
Okeo
Sushi bar
46 Volodymyrska,
247-4507.
Pantagruel
Italian/Continental
1 Lysenka, 228-8142.
UKRAINE PALACE
Miami Blues
European/Ukrainian
114 Chervonoarmiyska,
239-1133.
Seoul
Korean
160 Gorkoho, 268-5529.
NATIONAL
PHILHARMONIC
Le Grande Cafe
French/Continental
4 Muzeyny Prov., 228-7208.
Fondue Bar
Swiss/Fondue
Globus Mall, 238-2072.
Shaherazade
Central Asian
Globus Mall, 238-2095.
