Colorless Moon

Artists:

• Serine de Labaume, soprano

Phoenix String Quartet:

• Mykola Havyuk, violin
• Petro Titiaiev, violin
• Vadym Pedorych, viola
• Denys Lytvynenko, cello

Program:

• Osvaldo Golijov (b. 1960)
  • How Slow the Wind (lyrics by Emily Dickinson)
  • Lúa Descolorida (lyrics by Rosalía de Castro) from Three Songs for Soprano and String Quartet (2002)
• Oleksandr Kozarenko (1963–2023)
  • Three Inventions for Four Melodic Instruments (1988)
• Karl Weigl (1881–1949)
  • Sommernachmittag (lyrics by Vally Weigl)
  • Regenlied (lyrics by Klaus Groth) from Five Songs for Soprano and String Quartet, Op. 40 (1934)
• Jae-Sin Lee (b. 1975)
  • Arirang of Nostalgia
  • My Dearie is Gone (based on traditional Korean folk songs, 2022) – lyrics and arrangement by the composer
• Myroslav Skoryk (1938–2020)
  • Dance from Hutsul Triptych (from the film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors)
  • Three Ukrainian Wedding Songs (1974)
    • Shumila Lishchyna
    • Khyliaiutsia Vorota
    • Oi Letiat Halochky

“This song came to me from within, from a place beyond words, a place that only music can reach.”

Thus describes his works the contemporary Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov. His music is born from silence, as his creative path, like a complete musical score, consists of numerous pauses filled with a deep search for new sounds. Golijov masterfully touches upon the most profound themes—farewell, loss, longing—making his music almost therapeutic. This time, “How Slow the Wind” and “Lúa Descolorida” will be performed by Serine de Labom, accompanied by the warm sound of the Phoenix String Quartet.

Emotional depth remains the primary focus for Serine de Labom, whose visits aim to provide moral support to Ukrainians. Over the past three years, the soprano has performed more than ten concerts in Lviv, as well as actively advocating for Ukraine through performances across Europe. Her repertoire has increasingly included Ukrainian music, and on this evening, vocal works by Myroslav Skoryk and “Three Inventions for Four Melodic Instruments” by Oleksandr Kozarenko will be featured.

“It is impossible to overestimate the pain, anger, and sorrow that Ukrainians have endured in recent years. However, I continue to believe that the precious moments we share through music can help—offering a brief respite, a source of healing. If even for a moment, music brings you some relief, that will be my greatest reward for all the effort I have put in over the decades to become and remain a singer despite the challenges.”

— Serine de Labaume