ST George’s Hall is joining forces with 17 other venues around the UK to support Ukraine’s premier orchestra.

The Bradford concert hall will host to National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine for its biggest UK tour in 100 years. The three-week tour - the orchestra's first UK tour in 22 years - is covering the country in autumn 2023.

The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (NSOU) is recognised as one of the finest symphony orchestras in Eastern Europe. It will tour with a programme featuring Ukrainian composer Lyatoshynsky’s Grazhyna, Symphonic and Strauss’ Don Juan. The orchestra will be led by its music director Volodymyr Sirenko and will include two of the most distinguished young Ukrainian musicians on the international stage today - violinist Oleksii Semenenko and pianist Antonii Baryshevskyi.

Tour promoters IMG Artists and the 18 venues are keen to show their support for the orchestra. Alexander Hornostai, NSOU managing director and producer, says: “The NSOU has been an important part of the country’s culture for over

100 years. We have been performing and rehearsing in Kiev since 1918. Whilst this war has had a dramatic impact on Ukrainian lives, we took the decision early on that we had an important role to play in continuing to perform, to protect and showcase Ukrainian musical culture and show that there is more to our country than just the conflict.

“We are deeply grateful to the UK venues and tour promoters who are working with us to ensure this ambitious tour happens. We can’t wait to return to the UK after more than two decades and have the opportunity to perform to UK audiences all over the country.”

The NSOU initially put their plans on hold when Russia invaded Ukraine in February, then resumed rehearsals and performances two months later, at the end of April, in their usual location at the Lysenko Column Concert Hall in Kyiv. Most of the 98 NSOU members have remained in Kyiv, and with all men in Ukraine aged 18-60 conscripted to fight, two male members of the orchestra are currently conscripted to the Ukraine military.

The NSOU’s recent performances have included summer concerts in the Lysenko Column Hall. Ticket capacity is now limited to around 150 people, because only 200 people can fit in the air raid shelter under the building. When the air alarm goes off, the audience, orchestra members and venue staff move to the shelter, where the violinists play Bach sonatas and other music to the audience while they wait until its safe to come out.

The orchestra’s performance at St George’s Hall will include specially selected pieces by Ukrainian composer Boris Lyatoshynsky (1895–1968), whose works the NSOU have premiered in the past. Lyatoshynksy’s works are considered accessible and well-liked by audiences.

As well as providing a UK-wide platform for the orchestra to perform, the 2023 tour is also fundraising to support the NSOU and the continuation of Ukraine’s rich musical culture during the conflict. A Just Giving appeal has been set up by tour promoters IMG Artists and all proceeds will be donated to the orchestra at the end of the tour.

To make a donation visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nsoutour-2023

* The NSOU is at St George's Hall on October 26, 2023. Call (01274) 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk