Gaudeamus National Students’ Choir of Lviv Polytechnic went to Germany on October 25–29. The Choir visited Stuttgart and Munich.
Everything began with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Gaudeamus National Students’ Choir where the band met Viktoriia Vitrenko, Director of Rohrer-Lied-Ensemble in Stuttgart. At that time the German band planned touring in Kyiv and Odesa. Getting acquainted with Lviv band led to the initiative to organize a joint concert in Lviv as well. And on May 28, in the House of Organ and Chamber Music, the concert took place. After a successful event, Polytechnicians were invited to perform in Stuttgart.
Preparation for the trip lasted for two months. According to Roman Machyshyn, Choirmaster of Gaudeamus, choristers lived in German families that broadened their outlook:
– We noticed that the middle class there chooses a smart house and prefers comfort. It is believed that Germans are reserved. But if you offer a friendship, they correspond to it. We had lunch in the church, excursions to the historic center and the Porsche Museum. We also paid attention to the German punctuality: the program for us was written step by step and hourly, everything was thought out to the very smallest detail.
On Saturday, October 27, Gaudeamus performed in the local large Cathedral of the Holy Family. To listen to spiritual, patriotic choral music and Ukrainian songs arrangements came both older and young people – the Cathedral was full of people.
– Many people cried, although they did not understand words – music so much touched their hearts. Most of people were moved by the spiritual ancient chant Prayer. Of great appreciation were Oy Dub, Duba song and kolomyikas. After the performance people came to the dressing room and expressed their gratitude. In addition, we have established relationships with the Ontn-Cor Choir which showed desire to come to Lviv, said Roman Machyshyn.
The next day, Gaudeamus went to Munich. The Choir performed in the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Mother of God and of St. Andrew the Firstcalled (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral). Ukrainians, feeling nostalgia for their homeland, were crying during almost every song. After expressing sincere gratitude, Rector of the Catherdal, Father Volodymyr Viitovych, invited choristers to the Cathedral dining room to taste borshch and varenyky. At lunchtime there was a meeting with Andrii Kutsan, Stepan Bandera’s son-in-law. Mr. Kutsan invited the Choir to join the celebrations to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Stepan Bandera’s death, which would be celebrated in October of the following year. Logical continuation of this was the visit to Bandera’s grave, where Polytechnicians sang Glory to Ukraine. Students enjoyed walking through the historic center of Munich and visiting the largest beer bar in Europe.
