Ukrainian refugee choir sings European anthem in Lucerne
Published: Saturday, Jun 15th 2024, 18:00
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Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" - also known as the European anthem - was performed by a choir of over 70 Ukrainian refugees on Jesuitenplatz in Lucerne on Saturday afternoon. Several hundred people attended the event and gave it a big round of applause.
The performance directly in front of the baroque Jesuit church took place on the occasion of the Ukraine Peace Conference on the Bürgenstock. According to a press release, the Ukrainian choir singers, who have left their homeland due to the Russian war of aggression, wanted to thank Swiss society for its hospitality, among other things.
The concert was performed as a flash mob, i.e. as a seemingly spontaneous crowd. First the instrumentalists with violins, cello and bass came to Jesuitenplatz, then the choir singers joined them. Some of them wore traditional costumes.
The participants of a rally, who had previously campaigned for the Ukrainian prisoners of war, framed the choir. Many carried Ukrainian flags. After the "Ode to Joy", the choir sang a Ukrainian folk song and the national anthem with the support of the audience.
The concert was initiated by music manager Daniela Majer from Berlin and the event was organized by the Ukrainian Culture Network. Choirs from Bern, Zurich and Lausanne made the journey to Lucerne. Many of the instrumentalists who accompanied the choir came from the International Menuhin Music Academy based in Gstaad BE.
©Keystone/SDA
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