Silenced by the Soviets, Rediscovered in War: Polovyi Returns to the Stage in Kyiv

On April 9, the National Philharmonic of Ukraine will present a concert that showcases the rediscovered works of Valerii Polovyi, a composer whose music was silenced for decades, alongside the compositions of his daughter, the internationally recognized Victoria Vita Poleva. This concert is set to be a pivotal event in the cultural landscape of Ukraine, as it highlights the revival of musical pieces that have long been forgotten.

The concert will be conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson and performed by the Kyiv Camerata, featuring leading Ukrainian soloists and the Children’s Choir ‘Shchedryk’. This performance is part of the initiative ‘Liberated Music’, aimed at restoring the memory of suppressed Ukrainian composers. The initiative seeks to bring attention to the rich cultural heritage of Ukraine that has been overlooked due to historical oppression.

“In a time when the inner cities of Ukraine are suffering from one genocidal airstrike after another, I am preparing to travel to Kyiv for an important concert on April 9 at the Kyiv Philharmonic,” stated Wilson. “Together with the Kyiv Camerata, my beloved and heroic chamber orchestra dedicated to contemporary Ukrainian composers, we will perform the music of Poleva and her heroic father, Valerii Polovyi, a composer who has been attempted to be erased from history... Although his music was suppressed, Polovyi's indomitable spirit could not be broken. It will be a true revelation to perform his music alongside that of his brilliant daughter.”

Valerii Polovyi, a student of Boris Lyatoshynsky, was arrested in 1950 on fabricated charges and sent to forced labor in Kazakhstan. Even while imprisoned, he continued to compose music, writing notes on scraps of paper and cement bags. The works created during this time, including his Second String Quartet and Concerto for Two Violins, will be performed at the concert. These pieces reflect the resilience of a composer who, despite facing severe adversity, continued to create art.

Despite later rehabilitation, Polovyi's music remained outside the bounds of Soviet aesthetics and was largely absent from concert life. Today, it returns as part of a broader campaign to restore Ukraine's suppressed cultural heritage. Reflecting on this event, Victoria Poleva shared her thoughts on how her father's music has influenced her own creativity and the importance of bringing these works back into the public sphere.

This concert not only celebrates the return of forgotten masterpieces but also highlights the resilience of Ukrainian culture, which continues to thrive and evolve despite numerous challenges. It serves as a symbolic gesture demonstrating that even in the darkest times, art can be a powerful tool for restoration and preservation of national identity.