“When I came to the Czech Republic to meet with the organizers of the festival, I saw Ukrainian flags everywhere. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who supports our country and culture in such a difficult time for everyone,” said Oleksandra Korobkova, conductor and founder of the orchestra.
“People are very tired of the topic of the war in Ukraine, of course there are other things happening in the world and Ukraine often no longer occupies the first place in European news,” acknowledges. “But the war continues in our country. Two of my friends have died in the war in the last month: a talented young conductor and a singer.’
Freedom fighter
“The Queens Orchestra is played by girls who profess the age-old values of peace, freedom and independence. The role of a woman/girl who has ceased to be just a symbol of beauty, but is a defender and fighter for the freedom and independence of her country, her children, her family and her friends, is becoming very symbolic today.” noted the conductor in last year’s interview for the Ukrainian Information Service server.
Putting together an all-female band is difficult anywhere, but the Queens Orchestra have a wide range of instruments. “There are almost no girls who play brass professionally,” Korobková boasts that she has found two female trumpet players. “And there are only two female trombonists in Ukraine, one of whom plays in our orchestra.”
Their repertoire includes a wide range of popular pieces, from classical to jazz to rock and pop. During the war, they emphasized Ukrainian music – folk songs and patriotic songs.
Last year, the ensemble went to Poland, where the young musicians found asylum and performed a number of charity events. Now they are in England for a change. However, Metronome Prague will be their first performance at a major international festival.
He is looking forward to the Prague festival with famous names, as well as to the collaboration with the drummer and singer Koller. “Of course, I knew David’s work before and always considered him to be an excellent musician,” says conductor Korobková in a press release. “Working with David is above all a new and interesting experience for us. Our repertoire also includes works in rock arrangements, but we have never worked with rock musicians at such a high level before. I am sure that it will be a successful and creative collaboration, which can later develop into the creation of something new. We are really looking forward to it,” she added.
David Koller and the Ukrainian women’s project will open Metronome Prague on Wednesday, June 21. They foreshadow the (not only musical) festival, at which star names such as Jamiroquai, M83, ZAZ, Moderat, Aurora, Editors, JID, Holly Humberstone, ToveLo, White Lies, Riff Cohen, Biig Piig. From the country, i.a. Monkey Business with JAR, Zrní, Supercrooo, Mydy, Lazer Viking, PSH and Jana Kirschner. Blesk is the main media partner. More information at www.metronome.cz.
