On February 23, one day before Russia invaded Ukraine, Anna Stavychenko, the artistic director of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra, spoke with VAN about life in “a constant state of stress” and the importance of music for the Ukrainian identity. Since then, Stavychenko and her family have left their home. She is now commuting between Warsaw and Paris and organizing a series of aid projects for Ukrainian musicians, including a European tour for the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra. We spoke on April 7 via Zoom about a French initiative for refugee musicians, her attempts to promote Ukrainian repertoire, and the biggest step classical music institutions can take to support her country.
Truth Over Hope
From exile, Kyiv Symphony Orchestra director Anna Stavychenko helps Ukrainian musicians
