Rejoice with New CD

Olena Wawryshyn

 Vesnivka’s new Christmas CD, Rejoice, has a pleasant and clear sound.

Though the well-known choir, under the direction of conductor Halyna Kvita Kondracki, is in top form, it’s the choral and orchestral arrangements of Ukrainian composer Viktor Stepurko that give the music its freshness.

Rejoice features the traditional favourites such as "Divnaya Novyna" ("Wondrous Tidings"), but also new contemporary Ukrainian carols and New Year songs, including "Shchedrivka" by composer O. Jakivchuk and "The Carol" by I. Zacharzevskyj.

Vesnivka, a women’s choir, is joined on the CD by the Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir, also conducted by Kvitka Kondracki, in some of the numbers.

The Toronto-based Vesnivka was founded by Kondracki four decades ago. This fresh new CD demonstrates that Vesnivka is 40-years young.

Rejoice offers easy-listening sacred music that’s perfect for playing on Sviat Vechir and throughout the Christmas season.

The CD was recorded live at St. Vladimir Hall in Oakville by Ed Marshall and mixed by the Emmy Award-winning music/sound engineer.

Rejoice will be available at the Vesnivka concert on January 8 at Islington United Church, 25 Burnamthorpe Rd. at 3:00 p.m. in Toronto. For tickets, call (416) 763-2197.