Songs for Babyn Yar: Performing in Kyiv
After its genesis in Berlin and its London premiere, our initial journey of Songs for Babyn Yar culminated in a performance in Kyiv, Ukraine, on 7 December 2021 - the city in which more than 100,000 people were massacred in the ravine of Babyn Yar during Nazi occupation.
In this podcast episode, the three artists involved and its director reflect on this climactic performance, and the emotional and creative journey it took to get there. Ukrainian musicians Yuriy Gurzhy, Svetlana Kundish and Mariana Sadovska, alongside director Josephine Burton, discuss their experiences of performing such a raw, personal and emotionally demanding work in their country of origin, to an audience who live in the long shadows of the Babyn Yar massacres. The musicians explore their shared grief, its catharsis, the impact the production has had on audiences worldwide, and the questions it has raised.
Music:
Songs featured: 'Lullaby for Babyn Yar', 'Mipney Ma', 'Live' and 'Vald' from Songs for Babyn Yar
All music was created and recorded in the rehearsal room with Yuriy Gurzhy, Svetlana Kundish and Mariana Sadovska for Dash Arts
Intro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi
Hosted by Rachael Head
