PHOTO OPPORTUNITY/DIARY DATE: Friday, April 28, St Mary’s Cathedral, Huntly Street, Aberdeen, at 6.00pm
A concert to mark the courage and spirit of the people who endured the shocking effects of the Chernobyl nuclear Disaster in 1986 will be held later this month when the University of Aberdeen links up with the Gomel University Choir.
Aberdeen has been twinned with Gomel, a city of half a million people in Belarus, since 1990 and this month’s concert with the University of Aberdeen Choral Society and the Gomel University Choir forms the centrepiece of a week-long series of events and visits taking place across the city.
The visit by the 40-strong party from Belarus has been organised by the University of Aberdeen Choral Society, the Aberdeen Gomel Trust and the Friends of Gomel. This partnership was formed to find a positive way to mark the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and to celebrate the 15 years of Aberdeen’s twinning with the city of Gomel, whose region was considerably affected by the tragedy.
The five-day series of events centre around a joint performance, the Concert for Gomel, which will be held in St Mary’s Cathedral on Friday, April 28.
Lilian Murchison, of the Aberdeen Gomel Trust, said she was delighted that the Gomel University Choir had accepted the invitation to perform in Aberdeen. She said: “We are very much looking forward to the visit by the Gomel University Choir, much loved in Aberdeen through its previous visits to the city.
“The main purpose of the concert, and of the other public events throughout the week, is to use the power of music first to celebrate the courage and spirit of all peoples and nations affected by the nuclear fallout, and then to promote health and hope for the future. Other benefits will be to increase understanding and friendship between our two cities, and to stimulate new joint projects for the community, schools, universities, colleges and businesses.”
The two choirs will join in an exciting programme of sacred, classical and traditional song, which brings together the Eastern and Western European influences. The programme includes short works by Palestrina, Monteverdi, Viadana, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Bruckner and Rachmaninov, exerpts from Haydn’s “The Creation”, and Scottish and Belarussian national music.
Dr Roger B Williams, Director of Music at the University of Aberdeen, and Nikolai Koslov, Conductor of the Gomel University Choir, will conduct the Concert for Gomel. Dr Williams said: “The University of Aberdeen Choral Society has played a distinguished part in the musical life of the University and the City for more than 130 years.
“We are particularly proud to be joining once again with the Gomel University Choir for a concert that will celebrate Aberdeen’s long-standing relationship and support of the people of Gomel.
“The outstanding visiting choir have a special relationship with Aberdeen and the performance is sure to be a memorable occasion for all involved.”
The Friends of Gomel, a networking and fund-raising organisation to further broaden the contacts between Gomel and Aberdeen, have played a key role in securing this month’s visit by the Gomel people.
Alan McIntosh of the Friends of Gomel, said the group have been privileged to show their commitment and friendship to the visitors from Gomel. He said: “Members of the Friends of Gomel have shown tremendous support to the visitors, in particularly offering hospitality in our homes. The Gomel region was particularly badly affected by the Chernobyl radio-active dust cloud, causing health problems and relocation of part of the population.
“We have watched with admiration, their courage and spirit in dealing with these challenges, and were pleased to respond to requests for support.”
The Gomel University Choir arrives in Aberdeen on Sunday, April 23, leaving on Sunday, April 30. Other events running throughout the week include two public concerts at St Mary’s Cathedral and the Cowdray Hall; concerts for schools at Kincorth Academy and Bankhead Academy; a visit to Aberdeen Rotary Club; and a Civic Reception.
The visitors will also spend an evening in Barthol Chapel Church, near Oldmeldrum, on Monday, April 24, at 7.30pm. Tickets for this performance are priced at £2.00 and are available at the door on the evening. Earlier on the Monday, members of the choir will sample a real taste of Scotland when they have a guided tour of Glen Garioch Distillery in Oldmeldrum, with its recently opened visitor centre. Further information on the Barthol Chapel concert is available by contacting Judith Sleigh on (01651) 806014.
Tickets for the Concert for Gomel, which takes place on Friday, April 28, in St Mary’s Cathedral, Huntly Street, at 7.30pm, are priced £5.00 and are available from Aberdeen Box Office on (01224) 641122.