Odessa Classics at Ottawa Chamberfest

Ottawa Chamberfest welcomes the North American debut of Odessa Classics, the internationally acclaimed festival founded in 2015 by pianist Alexey Botvinov. Since the full-scale invasion made it impossible for the festival to continue in its home city, the celebrated “pearl of the Black Sea,” Odessa Classics has lived on in exile, bringing Ukrainian artists, music, and cultural spirit to audiences across Europe.

In this special collaboration, Chamberfest and Odessa Classics come together to offer a stunning and multi-faceted all-Ukrainian program that reflects both the richness of Ukrainian musical culture and the strength of artistic community across borders, including works by Poleva, Karamanov, Barvinsky, and the North American premiere of Valentyn Silvestrov’s new piano trio. The program brings together Ukrainian artists, including Alexey Botvinov and soprano Anna Pompeeva, alongside Ukrainian-Canadian artists Carissa Klopoushak and Roman Borys, and Canadian artists Annalee Patipatanakoon, Jamie Parker, Emily Kruspe, Sam Loeck, and Brett Polegato. The evening concludes with Skoryk’s Melody in A Minor, performed with displaced Ukrainian musicians living in the Outaouais region — a poignant and unforgettable closing tribute to longing, loss, and the enduring spirit of Ukraine.

This collaboration extends beyond the concert hall, unfolding across the festival week with a pre-concert Chamber Chat and a special late-night Chamberfringe performance by Daughters of Donbas on Friday, July 31.

At a time when unity and global connection are at the forefront of public conversation, this collaboration offers a deeply resonant example of the power of festival.

Anna Pompeeva (soprano)
Alexey Botvinov (piano)
Brett Polegato (baritone)
Emily Kruspe (violin)
Carissa Klopoushak (violin and viola)
Gryphon Trio (piano trio)
Annalee Patipatanakoon (violin)
Roman Borys (cello)
Jamie Parker (piano)
Sam Loeck (double bass)

Program

Yakiv Stepovyi (1883–1921)
O Mother Earth (poetry Ivan Franko)
O Cherished Word (poetry by Oleksandr Oles)

Valentin Silvestrov (b. 1937)
Moments of Memory (V) for Piano Trio (2024) - North American Premiere
7 movements attaca
Commissioned by 53rd Istanbul Music Festival 2025 / Turkey; Wonderfeel Festival / The Netherlands; Walden Festival / Belgium; Off the Beaten Path Festival / Bulgaria; Beethoven Fest Bonn / Germany; Odessa Classics / Ukraine

Mykola Lysenko (1842–1912)
Mariltsa’s Aria from the opera Taras Bulba

Borys Lyatoshynsky (1894–1968)
A Quiet Wind Blows in the Field

Ukrainian folk song
(arr. Vladislav Zaremba)
Oh, I Know That I Have Sinned

Viktoria Polyova (Poleva) (b. 1962)
Blessed Sadness for two violins and piano - North American Premiere

Myroslav Skoryk (1938–2020)
Carpathian Rhapsody

Alemdar Karamanoff (1934–2007)
(arr. Alexey Botvinov)
Night prayer from Piano Concerto no. 3 (“Ave Maria”)

Dmytro Klebanov (1907–1987)
Scherzo from Trio No. 2 for Piano, Violin and Cello

Mykola Lysenko (1842–1912)
Élégie. “La Tristesse” from 3 Pieces from ‘Album from the Summer of 1901’, Op.39

Vasyl Barvinsky (1988-1963)
Variations for Strings and Piano
          Theme – Andante (quasi Larghetto)
          Variation I – Listesso tempo
          Variation II – Scherzo
          Variation III – Lyrist Song
          Variation IV – Allegro moderato ma energico
          Variation V – Dumka
          Variation VI – Kolomyika

M. Skoryk
Melody

This performance runs approximately two hours and five minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.

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