In Kharkiv, attacked almost daily by Russian forces, a group of Ukrainian musicians offered a concert this Saturday (26) to a small but emotional audience. Without the sound of bombing, it was as if time stopped for a few minutes in the midst of the war.
For half an hour, three violinists, a cellist and a double bassist played for a few dozen people at one of the main subway stations in Ukraine’s second-largest city, close to the Russian border.
In the basement, protected from rockets and long-range missiles, musicians aged between 20 and 35 performed the national anthem, an excerpt from “Suite nº 3” by Johann Sebastian Bach, “Humoresques” by Antonin Dvorak, and melodies of Ukrainian folklore.
They also performed a composition by Ukrainian Miroslav Skorik often used by President Volodymyr Zelensky in his videos and social media posts.
The concert was held on the marble staircase of a cathedral-like station, under the delighted gaze of refugee citizens. Dozens of families have lived there since the Russian invasion began on February 24, fleeing the war on the surface and sleeping in idle train cars.
“It helps us fill our hearts and get through difficult times,” said Sergui Politutchi, the concert’s creator and director of the Kharkiv Music Fest. One of the most prestigious events in Ukraine, the festival should have started this Saturday (26) – if there wasn’t a war.
With an armed escort, the governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Sinegubov, and the mayor of the city, Igor Terejov, attended the recital.
Among the five musicians was professional cellist Denos Karachevtsev, whose videos of himself performing in front of bombed buildings in Kharkiv have gone viral on social media in recent days.
“It was a simple idea, to be useful to my people, to my country, to my hometown. I love the city, its people, and I will do everything I can to help,” the cellist told AFP news agency.
“People have told me that my videos have brought some normalcy back to life. It’s something that’s important right now. We’re not afraid, we’re strong, and each of us can help in our own way.”
Violinist Tatiana Shuj was beaming after the short but intense performance. “Everyone came to my house for a single rehearsal,” she said. “In the first days of the war, a total silence took over me. Then I understood that we need to continue living, for our ideals, our country, our future.”
For her, playing instruments and performing is something musicians should do under any circumstances. With a smile, she added, “Maybe it was the best show of my life.”
