At a shelter in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, Vera Litovchenko gave a splash on social media when she posted a video where she plays the violin to her citizens for the whole world, “making you forget the war even for a few minutes.”
Since the beginning of the invasion of Russia, violinists have shown that small tools that are easy to transport are “resistance weapons.”
“I'm not a doctor, I'm not a soldier, I'm not a politician. All I need to do is play the violin.” Vera Litovchenko explains to AFP in a whatsapp message.
“I don't want to feel helpless. I want to help my friends and music teachers who have lost their homes, jobs or musical instruments.”, explains the song that launched a fundraiser after receiving many messages of support from around the world.
- “Soldiers of the Musical Front” -
A soloist and teacher of the Kharkov Opera Orchestra, this 39-year-old Ukrainian was inspired by one of the students who played the violin in front of a refugee on the subway.
Armed with bow, Vera Vivaldi sang and Ukrainian songs.
“We have 12 people, including children, teenagers and the elderly. I consider myself very special because I am in a basement with heating, electricity and food. Others are not very lucky.” It says that.
Helping his country through music is also the goal of 20-year-old Ilya Bondarenko, who was filmed at a shelter in Kiev. Along with the violin, he played the Ukrainian folk song “Verbovaya Doscheshka”.
Through a video montage, the young violinist joined 94 violinists from 70 countries, including nine of his compatriots, and the violin division of the famous soloist Daniel Hope or the Munich Chamber Orchestra.
This video became a viral phenomenon after being shared by the London Symphony Orchestra (more than 3.6 million Facebook downloads).
Violinist Kerenza Peacock, founder of the project called “Violinist for Ukraine”, which raises money for war victims, told AFP: “I hope this video will reach people's hearts. Music is the strongest prayer.
“Elijah was really amazing. It was filmed while the sirens were heard and the Internet connection was not good.” It says that.
The young man told AFP via Skype: “When I returned to the apartment during the day, I tried not to make a noise to recognize the sirens, so I registered myself at the shelter where I spent the night.
“Music has power and Ukrainian musicians are now soldiers on the music front.” “Explains the young man who is concerned about his parents who were evacuated with his grandmother in Lviv region (west) and banned in Zhytomyr, in western Kiev.
- Musicians who went to war -
Elijah, who continued his literature study at the Kiev Conservatory, believes that his instrument is the “weapon of resistance.”
“Today I can do music more than weapons.” He explained it.
Kerenza Peacock explains that other violinists contacted refused to participate in the project because they “showed up”
“There are many musicians who have weapons to defend our country,” said Maria Clemenko, 23, who left Kiev for Lviv.
This young woman shared a video on Instagram in which she plays the Ukrainian lullaby with guitarist Yuri Bekbaev for two years, thanks to the montage.
“He stayed in Kiev and closed the windows of his apartment to protect himself. We decided to compile this video to find this link that brought us together before the war.” This student from the Kiev Music Academy explains to AFP.
“I chose this lullaby. Because when I was a child, my mom sang a song to calm me down. I hope those watching the video will feel the peace that invades their hearts.”
JZ/ZM