MOTHERS A SONG FOR WARTIME

In the organizer's words:

MOTHERS A SONG FOR WARTIME

by Marta Górnicka / Chorus of women foundation (Warsaw)

They are 9 to 71 years young. Women from Ukraine, Poland and Belarus. The Ukrainian women, as mothers and daughters directly affected by the Russian invasion, fled from war, the Belarusians from atrocities. The Polish women took them in. The 21 women now counter the violence with plenty of warmth and solidarity, as well as their concentrated, collective vocal power. In MOTHERS, they sing in the Ukrainian tradition of shchedryvka under the direction of Polish director Marta Górnicka. These are folk songs wishing happiness, interwoven here with chants that tell of anger, longing and love. Marta Górnicka conducts the choir from the audience, creating a lively connection with the singers. Together, they dared to take to the stage because they no longer want to hide their feelings and now want to write their own story instead of having their part of the truth suppressed, should the documentation of the war once again be left to the victors and men. As singing protagonists, they call on us not to forget the war unleashed by Russia on Ukrainian soil. MOTHERS questions the role of Western Europe: Have you really done enough to support Ukraine? The mothers there would love to protect their children and dedicate their shchedryvka to them, this ancient Ukrainian rite from pre-Christian times, which has always been performed by women and children. But how is this possible when sons and daughters have to go to the front?

[A performance of 21 Ukrainian, Polish, Belarusian women. Of different ages and biographies. Refugees from Mariupol, Kyiv, Irpin. Those who have fled the war, and those who have fled persecution. They use the power of their voices to name the unspeakable. Based on traditional Ukrainian ritual singing, they search for a new ritual choral voice. Their singing becomes an accusation, plea and warning to us and all people in Europe