Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – The young musicians from Ukraine had to flee from the Russian bombs, in Germany they are reunited. The Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine gave a concert in the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament on Tuesday. Among other things, a peace fanfare and the Ukrainian national anthem sounded in the plenary hall. The orchestra was supported by the Ratingen Concert Choir.
The musicians between 12 and 22 years old come from more than 30 different cities in Ukraine. The orchestra was founded in 2016 on the initiative of conductor Oksana Lyniv. Shortly before the start of the Russian war of aggression, vocal soloists from Germany, Italy and South Africa were supposed to travel to Lviv (Lemberg) in the spring to rehearse with the orchestra. But then came the war. The city of Moers succeeded in bringing the young people to Germany. Many were placed with host families. The orchestra is now rehearsing again in Moers.
“This war is also directed against cultural workers and their values,” said state parliament president André Kuper. But the energy of culture could not be stopped permanently by bombs, tanks and rockets. After several performances in Germany, the orchestra wants to be back on stage in Kyiv in September.
