Barbara-Maria Weil, a journalist from Germany who has been regularly visiting Ukraine in recent years, has published an article in the renowned magazine Das Orchester. In it, she discusses the activities of the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Lviv National Philharmonic since 2014. Comments were shared by the Philharmonic’s General Director and conductor Volodymyr Syvokhip, Orchestra Director and flutist Mykhailo Sosnovskyi, and principal cellist Denys Lytvynenko. Throughout the conversation, the musicians also reflected on the historical context of attitudes toward Ukrainian music, discussing various projects and recordings.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, the life of the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Lviv National Philharmonic has undergone significant changes. Some musicians have taken up arms to defend the country at the front, rehearsals and concerts have been threatened by air raids and power outages, and foreign soloists and conductors have been reluctant to travel to Ukraine. However, the orchestra continues its dedicated work, with its mission since 2014 remaining the same—unity and peace in the country, as well as the promotion of Ukrainian music both in Ukraine and abroad.

Mykhailo Sosnovskyi recalled the orchestra’s initial reaction to the full-scale invasion:

“The first thing we did after the full-scale invasion began was to remove all Russian composers from our programs, increasing the presence of Ukrainian music.”

Denys Lytvynenko explained the necessity of this decision:

“During the Soviet era, we could not represent our culture, as it could cost us our lives. But now, our culture and language define our identity. This is who we are, this is our hope! If we lose our culture, we have nothing to fight for, because we would already be dead.”

The musicians are recording all Ukrainian compositions, both as an orchestra and in chamber ensembles such as the string quartet “Phoenix,” in which Denys Lytvynenko participates. After recording, in addition to CDs, the works are uploaded to YouTube to promote and make Ukrainian music more accessible.

“Essentially, the goal is to show our own people and the world how beautiful our music is, how grand and profound our culture is!” – commented Volodymyr Syvokhip.

The support received from around the world for the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Lviv National Philharmonic is immense, as is the appreciation from audiences. Perhaps this is part of the orchestra’s special spirit—they have a mission. These musicians are promoters and ambassadors of their country’s music and rich culture.

— Barbara-Maria Weil