In Memoriam to Oleksandr Kozarenko

Book’s presentation, concert, photo exhibition

The Lviv National Philharmonic honors the memory of the outstanding Ukrainian, composer, musicologist and pianist Oleksandr Kozarenko, who passed away this March. He would have turned 60 on August 24. On August 22, 2023, the presentation of the non-fiction publication “Oleksandr Kozarenko: The Score of Life… Memories of the Artist” will be held (the concept of the publication, arrangement and editing by the Doctor of Art History, Professor Hanna Karas; the idea of the publication and arrangement by the Ph.D Roman Dzundza. Ivano-Frankivsk: Foliant, 2023). In addition to the presentation, the event will include two more components: an exhibition of photo portraits and a concert part, where Kozarenko’s works will be performed by Iryna Kliuchkovska and Mariana Samotos.

Book’s presentation

The Director General of the Philharmonic, Volodymyr Syvokhip, will moderate the memorial meeting about the brilliant artist. Hanna Karas (doctor of art history, professor of Prykarpattia National University named after Vasyl Stefanyk, Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine, member of NTSH, member of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine, laureate of the D. Sichynsky regional prize, Ivano-Frankivsk) will deliver a welcome speech and a story about the publication ) and Roman Dzundza (Doctor of Philosophy, conductor of the symphony orchestra of the Ira Malaniuk Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Philharmonic).

Invited speakers: 

• Yurii Lutsiv – symphonic and opera conductor, laureate of the Shevchenko State Prize, People’s Artist of Ukraine, professor of the Lysenko Lviv National Academy of Music
• Ivan Yuziuk, professor, People’s artist of Ukraine, head of the department of choral and opera-symphonic conducting of the Lysenko Lviv National Academy of Music
• Andrii Sodomora, a writer, scientist, professor of the Department of Classical Philology at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
• Yulia Kurtash-Karp, a poetess

Concert

Artists:

• Iryna Kliuchkovska, soprano
• Mariana Samotos, piano

Program:

Oleksandr Kozarenko (1963–2023).

• “The Virgin Mary” (Prayer)
• Three works from the cycle “Seven Strings” after Lesya Ukrainka
  “Fa” (Sonnet)
  “Sol” (Rondeau)
  “Si” (Settina)
• “Pysanka” No. 4 (Tranquillo) from the cycle “Pysankas” based on an authentic melody from the wedding recordings of the village of Myshin (Verkhovyna)
• Three works from the cycle “Five Romances after Sofia Maidanska”
  “Ship”
  “On a plate of roosters…”
  “Sonnet”
• “Meeting” from “Triptych after Marta Tomenko”

Photo exhibition

The photo exhibition “60 episodes of the life of the composer Oleksandr Kozarenko” is the result of 24 years of photography for newspapers, magazines, and CD covers, as well as visits to concerts by the Lviv photo artist Serhii Smirnov. The first shots were taken in 1998 at the premiere of the theater piece for children “Peter Pan” in the Zankovetska Theater, for which Oleksandr Kozarenko composed music. Photojournalist Serhii Smirnov documented the events of the musical environment thanks to the editorial assignments in the Lviv newspapers “Vysoky Zamok” and “Tyzhden”, which constantly covered the cultural and musical life of the city in articles by journalists Hryhorii Khramov, Halyna Vdovychenko, Svitlana Veselka and Halyna Domozhirova. A striking phenomenon was the work of composer, performer and teacher Oleksandr Kozarenko, who charmed the audience with his skill in performing piano music in the halls of the Lviv Philharmonic, Lysenko Conservatory, the Solomiia Krushelnytska Museum and at the music department at the Ivan Franko University.

Over time, the composer had a need for the publication and design of CDs with the author’s works of classical music. And then photos from concerts with the participation of violinist, People’s Artist of Ukraine Lidiia Shutko, pianist Oleh Kryshtalskyi and other performers were joined. The covers for the following music discs were already photographed separately, with a certain preparation of clothes and mood.

There was another significant reason that made it difficult to take pictures… This is the lack of time and the Maestro’s constant tours around the world. Oleksandr Volodymyrovych always returned from abroad in an inspired and exalted state and, sitting in Lviv cafes, generously shared his impressions. After all the heard ideas and impressions, there was a thought about the need for a good photo for the poster. There was always a lack of time, but thanks to the perseverance and skill of the photographer Serhii Smirnov, dozens of posters and CD covers were created that Mr. Oleksandr Kozarenko liked.

A year before his death, the composer called the photographer back and informed him that he had lost a disc with photos that needed to be renewed. The photographer collected all the photos he had taken of Oleksandr Kozarenko over 24 years of cooperation and gave them to him. But…