Special Concert of Cossack Song in Memory of Hetman Ivan Mazepa and the Battle of Konotop

On December 13, 2009, the Canadian Bandurist Capella will perform Cossack, heroic, traditional and other popular Ukrainian songs dedicated to the 300^th nniversary of the death of Hetman Ivan Mazepa and the Cossack victory over Tsarist forces at Konotop 350 years ago.  This Concert of Cossack Song will take place at 85 Christie Street in Toronto at 3 pm.

The League of Ukrainian Canadians and the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women are organizing this event together with the Canadian Bandurist Capella, because 2009 is the year of Mazepa, which was proclaimed by the League of Ukrainian Canadians some time ago.  Lord Byron, Voltaire, Hugo, Gericault, Delacroix, Verne and others were among the many famous poets, artists and composers, who praised Mazepa.  Given these facts, Oleh Romanyshyn, LUC President, stated that it is important for Ukrainian artists to praise Hetman Ivan Mazepa and Cossack victories over foreign forces.

The Canadian Bandurist Capella is a forty-member Ukrainian male choir, accompanied by the unique harp-like sound of the sixty-five string bandura.  The musical pieces that the Capella performs, are steeped in the traditional kobzar art form, dating back to historical Cossack times. Their entertaining style and repertoire consists of epic historic folk songs, sacred music, as well as modern compositions. Colourful costumes, powerful voices and spectacular harmony are their trademark, as the Canadian Bandurist Capella will delight listeners at the concert.

Organizers of the Concert of Cossack Song are expected to convey to the audience the importance of the Battles at Konotop and Poltava and are pleased to invite the entire Ukrainian community and all Cossack descendents to this unique Concert of Cossack Song.