Kurbasy
Songs of the Ukrainian Forest
On tour as part of Center Stage
With Songs of the Ukrainian Forest, the musical collective Kurbasy presents an audio-visual theatrical exploration of a country’s proud people and their history.
Drawing from a rich trove of lullabies and legends, the artists conjure their views of the natural world, beliefs, and rituals, to trace contemporary connections to a rich cultural past.
Tight vocal harmonies summon visions of Slavic mythic poetry, indigenous ceremonies, and seasonal celebrations. An ensemble of four instrumentalists (bass, violin, cello, and an assortment of folk instruments from Ukraine and around the world) provide dramatic accompaniment, all framed by stunning projections.
Songs of the Ukrainian Forest was developed by Kurbasy’s artistic directors Mariia Oneshchak and Nataliia Rybka-Parkhomenko in 2020, when the two brought their families together in a house outside Lviv during the Covid’s quarantine. In wartime Ukraine, this song cycle has become a powerful representation of Ukraine’s centuries-old cultural touchstones and contemporary identity.
Tickets:
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Sponsored by
George and Nina Woskob
Accessibility services supported by
Sidney and Helen S. Friedman Endowment
A grant from the University Park Fee Board makes Penn State student prices possible.
Kurbasy is on tour in the United States as part of Center Stage, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with funding provided by the U.S. Government. It is administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts in cooperation with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations. General management is provided by Lisa Booth Management, Inc. www.centerstageUS.org.
