Between the sacred and the secular, this concert explores the many facets of the Ukrainian musical tradition — a crossroads of cultures and European routes for centuries.

The program brings two worlds into dialogue: that of Baroque sacred music, born in the churches, and that of folk songs passed down orally from generation to generation in the villages. The former seeks harmony and balance, while the latter captivates with its raw energy — powerful female voices, daring dissonances, free rhythms, and vibrant exclamations. Some songs echo the traditions of the Balkans through their sinuous melodic turns, vocal ornamentation, and irregular rhythms. Others, influenced by Poland or Italy, reveal how dynamic and open to the world Ukrainian folk music remains.

The singers of Korabel Ensemble embody the spirit of Ukrainian tradition with creativity and depth. Deeply connected to their land, they perform in traditional costumes — collected mainly from rural communities — just like the music and dances they bring to life.

In this exceptional concert, conceived within a particularly charged sociopolitical context, the group welcomes specialists in Baroque repertoire. The program unfolds in several contrasting sections, featuring folk dances, ritual fragments, and processional scenes — forming a kind of celebration where everything converges and harmonizes.

At the beginning of the concert, guest Bulgarian artists — who will also lead a Bulgarian singing workshop on November 7, 2025, at Ilôt 13 — will perform as a prelude.

Korabel Ensemble:
Izabella Stasiuk Armaganian
Antonina Mitrakhova
Alexandra Novikov
Evgeny Skurat
Katarzyna Stankiewicz
Lucile Tarpinian
Irina Telkova
Olga Velichkina

Guest artists:
Olga Biziukova
Pierre Chepelov

Costume design: Irina Koroleva