“I tell my descendants – we are here for you, that’s all.

You will live in Ukraine 

We dream of

And we are now regaining!”

Wassyl Slipak, 2015

June 29 marks six years since a sniper bullet killed Wassyl Slipak, a prominent Ukrainian opera singer, soloist of the Paris National Opera, volunteer, participant in the Russian-Ukrainian war, Hero of Ukraine, and holder of the Order of Courage of the 1st degree.

The marathon was launched in 2017 by the Myroslav Skoryk Lviv National Philharmonic. It is held annually on the last days of June. It unites musicians from many countries and occurs in different parts of the world. This year the concerts will be held in Ukraine, Switzerland and France.

Before the Lviv opening of the 6th WLIVE Marathon, a traditional picnic dedicated to Wassyl Slipak will take place in the Parc André Citroën in Paris. The event is organised by the  “L’association A travers l’Europe” and the “Fraternité Ukrainienne” volunteer initiative. The event will start on June 26 at 16:00 pm and will be represented in the format of “warm memories” of friends and fans and all those who care about the memory of the Ukrainian hero, the leader of the Ukrainian community in Paris Wassyl Slipak.

“We are continuing his work. What he wanted most is to continue to fight and help the military”, it is stated in the announcement of the event. So, charitable humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian military will be collected during the picnic.

More about the event. 

On June, 28 the 6th International Music Marathon in Memory of Wassyl Slipak (WLIVE) will open at the Lviv National Philharmonic.

The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, the Kalophonia Vocal Ensemble, singer Nazar Savko and violinist Mykola Haviuk will perform works by Ukrainian composers and Ukrainian songs.

Details of the event. 

All profits from the charity ticket sale will be donated to our 80th Lviv Separate Mobile Guards Air Assault Brigade for the purchase of cars and thermal drones.

On June 28, a concert in memory of Wassyl Slipak will also take place at St. Martin’s Church in Zuhvil, Switzerland. The event will start at 20:00 pm.

Mykola Pososhko (10 years old), Mykyta Sukhovienko (13 years old) and famous Ukrainian violinist Bohdana Pivnenko (teacher of two children) will perform at the concert. Anna Pososhko will accompany them on the piano.

Mykyta, Mykola and their mother now live with their friends in Bolligen (Canton of Bern). Their Ukrainian house in Siverskodonetsk was destroyed by the Russians. Now the children continue their studies in Bern music schools. The concert has a charitable purpose, and the funds raised will be used to help musicians and their families in Ukraine.

The program of the Swiss concert as part of the Marathon:

• Myroslav Skoryk. Melody
• Charles Auguste de Bériot. Ballet Scene
• František Alois Drdla. Carmen-Fantasy
• Myroslav Skoryk. Elegy
• Valentyn Sylvestrov. Songs Without Words
• Julius Meitus. Allegro
• Myroslav Skoryk. Carpathian Rhapsody
• Lev Kolodub. Sketch in Moldavian style
• Fritz Kreisler. Miniature Viennese March
• Johannes Brahms. Hungarian dance № 5

On June 29, at 5:30 pm, the International Marathon in Memory of Wassyl Slipak will continue the concert “W Live. With Love, from France”. The soloist is Sérine de Labaume, a French soprano with Korean-American background. Since March 2022, she has expressed her admiration and support for the people of Ukraine, performing in 11 different peace/benefit concerts in the Berlin area. 

She arrived in Lviv on May 30th on an impromptu trip, wishing to share music’s comfort and healing power with the people of Ukraine. In the concert, the vocalist will perform with the well-known Ukrainian pianists Oksana Rapita and Myroslav Dragan. The musicians will perform works from the world’s classic opera repertoire!

Details of the event.

Also on June 29, as part of the marathon in memory of Wassyl Slipak, a concert of cello music, “Prayer for Wassyl” will take place in Lviv. The concert will take place at 19:30 pm in the Garrison Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Cellist Denys Lytvynenko will perform Cello Suites No. 1 and No. 2. A sad Lemko folk song “Plyne kacha” will be sung in memory of Wassyl Slipak and all those killed in the brutal war of Russia against Ukraine.

Details of the event.

Another event of the Marathon will take place on June 30 at 19:00 pm at the Wassyl Slipak Ukrainian Cultural Center (Paris, France). A concert in memory of Wassyl Slipak will be performed by the Kyiv Piano Duo consisting of Oleksandra Zaitseva and Dmytro Tavanets.

Oleksandra Zaitseva and Dmytro Tavanets graduated from the National Music Academy of Ukraine. The duo has a wide repertoire of compositions for piano four hands, for two pianos and concerts with orchestra. They are the founders and artistic directors of the International Chamber Music Session in Kyiv.

Concert program:

• Franz Liszt. “Mazeppa”
• Mykhailo Shved. “Echoes”
• Yevhen Stankovych. “Ancient Mountain Dances of Verkhovyna”
• Camille Saint-Saëns. “Danse macabre”
• Johannes Brahms. “German Requiem”

Partners of the WLIVE-2022 Marathon:

Wassyl Slipak Foundation

Embassy of Ukraine in France

Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UNESCO

L’association A travers l’Europe

We invite you to honor the memory of an outstanding Ukrainian!