Violina Petrychenko - Mrii: Ukrainian Hope (2023)

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates said, 'The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream.' Today, the dream of Ukrainians is one of victory, complete and final! We are approaching it on the cultural front as well, defending our own cultural borders, assets, and values, while also introducing the unique musical history of Ukraine to the world.

"The word 'mriya' ("dream") in Ukrainian language sounds soft and melodious. A dream is what elevates us, raises us above everyday life, and calls for light, joy, and happiness." With these words, the well-known popularizer of Ukrainian piano music, Violina Petrychenko, begins her appeal to every listener of her new CD 'Mrii. Ukrainian Hope.'

The word "mriya" is relatively young, dating back to the 19th century. Its author is believed to be either the playwright Mykhailo Starytskyi, or the poets Olena Pchilka or Lesya Ukrainka. Today, it is well-known and can be interpreted in various ways based on each individual's temperament and imagination.

Violina Petrychenko (born 1984) is a Ukrainian pianist. She graduated from the National Academy of Music (Kyiv), the Franz Liszt University of Music (Weimar), the Hochschule für Musik Köln (Cologne), and the Folkwang University of the Arts (Essen). She is a laureate of numerous international competitions, a winner of European awards and scholarships, and she now performs internationally and teaches a private class in the German city of Cologne. Most of the pianist's performances are chamber solo and ensemble programs, including Ukrainian classics. On the release "Mrii. Ukrainian Hope," the pianist presents the latest recordings of piano pieces by Yakiv Stepovyi, Mykola Lysenko, Levko Revutskyi, and Alois Jedlichka. Seventeen compositions from the romantic era are united by considerable dreaminess, melody, and Ukrainian sincerity. Works based on song and dance genres, as well as preludes and fantasies, open up to the listener the unique world of Ukrainian piano music in the context of the European tradition. Some of the works included in the album were recorded for the first time, making the disc "Mrii" of special value.

It is interesting that Violina Petrychenko deliberately chose to record the works by composers from eastern and central Ukraine, the part of the country that, according to Russian propaganda, has always been a province of Russia. The biographies and, most importantly, the music of the composers presented on the disc prove the opposite - Ukraine is independent with its own rich history and culture.

Tracklist
01. Reverie, Visions of the Past, op. 13 D Minor
02. Chant triste, op. Posth D Minor
03. Fantasia on Ukrainian folk songs: Moderato – Allegro – Andante sostenuto – Alla Polacca – Moderato – Allegro
04. Fantasia on Ukrainian folk songs: Mriya G Minor
05. Fantasia on Ukrainian folk songs: Prelude op. 9 nr. 1 B-Flat Minor
06. Fantasia on Ukrainian folk songs: Mazurka op. 9 nr. 2 E-Flat Major
07. Dumka-schumka, op. 18 A Minor: Dumka Moderato assai – Poco Allegretto – Shumka Allegro non troppo – Maggiore – Allegro energico
08. Dumka-schumka, op. 18 A Minor: Prelude in Memory of Shevchenko op. 13 A Minor
09. Dumka-schumka, op. 18 A Minor: Valse op. 5 nr. 1 B Minor
10. Dumka-schumka, op. 18 A Minor: Elegie op. 5 nr. 2 A Minor
11. Dumka-schumka, op. 18 A Minor: Menuett op. 5 nr. 3 G Major
12. Dumka-schumka, op. 18 A Minor: Dance op. 5 nr. 4 C Major
13. Dumka-schumka, op. 18 A Minor: Prelude op. 7 nr. 4 A Minor
14. Dumka-schumka, op. 18 A Minor: Fantasia E Minor
15. Improvisation E-Flat Major: allegretto – Lento – Largo – Maestoso
16. Improvisation E-Flat Major: Song op. 17 nr. 1 G Minor
17. Valse B-Flat Major: moderato – Poco meno mosso Moderato