Songs and dances irresistible

Toronto surrenders
to Red Army |

At the end of their eoncert in
Toronto's O’Keefe Centre on
Monday night the Red Army
Song and Dance Ensemble won
a standing ovation from a pack-
ed audience in a city that has
somewhat of a reputation for
being reserved and blasé about
such events.

That, perhaps, is the story of
the concert. The - performers
seemed to be enjoying them-
selves, the audience loved the
performance and there was that
electric relationship between
the two.

The rapport began almost
from the beginning of the con-
cert. The third selection, the
rouscr Kalinka, brought forth
the first bit of toe tapping and
the audience strained to pick
out the solo whistler in the rows

of uniformed singers (the en-
core made it obvious who it was,
the one in the third row, slight-
ly to the left, with the by now
beet-red face).

From then on, the chorus had
the audience captivated, and
one got the impression it didn’t
really matter what they did next.

But the concert went on to
demonstrate the group’s versa-
tility. Sad songs, gay songs,
classical songs and folk songs,
showcases for the chorus and
audience-rousers, everything in
that remarkable image of the
chorus which conveys impec-
cable professionalism yet with
the spirit of a bunch of the boys
out for a good time singing.

As good as the chorus, was the
dancers seemed to steal the
show. :

The color, the crescendo of
the music, the leaps and move-
ments, all combine to give a
sense of improbability to the
dancing. Nobody with any bones
should be able to defy all laws
of balance and gravity like that.
But they do.

Just as the dancing got going,
the audience began to respond
with rhythmic clapping and this
spirit kept building up all eve-
ning until the inevitable end
with the singing of Auld Lang
Syne. One felt a tremor inside
as the chorus linked arms.

Then it was over and the
audience stood and applauded
and the chorus applauded back,
the people waved at the men
and the performers waved back.

R. M.

UKRAINIAN CONCERT

Program thrills, evokes
pride and patriotism

The Shevchenko Male Chorus,
Toronto Mandolin Orchestra and
the Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
provided their audience with a
stirring reminder of the deep
contribution Ukrainians have
made to the fabric of Canadian
culture, at a Centennial Concert
in Massey Hall last Saturday
evening.

From the first chords of the
rousing rendition of O Canada,
the pride and patriotism evoked
by the program could weil be
a model for the many centennial
presentations being made across
our land.

You could look far and wide
in Canada to match the artistry
and capability of the chorus.
Their numbers, some unaccom-
panied, but more with subtle
orchestra support, were alone
sufficient to: make for a reward-
ing musical evening. Add to
them the work of the highly
competent, facile and delicately
balanced mandolin orchestra,
and you had a combination that
could not help but attract seri-

ous attention and respect.

The full musicianship of the
orchestra was revealed in its
playing of the first movement of
Schubert’s Unfinished Sym-
phony.

The programming by the cho-
rus included a good balance of
dramatic and humorous songs.
Noteworthy was “Song of The
Emigrant:” a contemporary
poem by a young Soviet Ukrai-
nian, R. Bratun, set to music by
A. Kos-Anatolsky, dedicated to
the Ukrainian Canadian emi-
grant. “An Evening Party” solo-
ed by A. Zuk and F. Kurban,
with accordion accompaniment
by Walter Kowman, was good
musical fun. Equally thrilling
was the chorus’ treatment of
“Aupres de ma Blonde.” The fu-
sion of a French Canadian qua-
drille with the Ukrainian folk-
idiom was an effective and
charming means of paying trib-
ute to the culture of our French
Canadian nation. The audience
appreciation of this aspect of
the program was summed up in

UTHE WARLIKE AND
AGGRESSIVE SPIRIT

OF NORTH VIETNAM,
ETC. ETC."

their enthusiastic response to a
charming step dance by Marie
Prociw.

The traditional and fiery ‘‘Ho-
pak” by the Dance Ensemble
was a fitting lead into the grand
finale and brought burst after
burst of applause from the
crowd.

If there is any criticism of the
evening it lies in the program-
ming. This reviewer would have
liked to see the theme of the
centennial year introduced at
the outset, rather than with-
holding it until the second half.

Had this theme “been presented:

at the beginning, its impact
could have been amplified with
the interspersing of the many
exquisitely prepared selections
throughout the program. arriv-
ing at the pinnacle with the
most stirring rendition’ of
“Something to Sing About” the
listener has heard.

It also seems a little unfair to
try to contain so volatile a
dance form as the Ukrainian on
a postage stamp stage which
was all that was left. after ac-
commodating the chorus and or-
chestra.

These criticisms are quite sec-
ondary, however, to the overall
excellence of the program and
lavish praise is in order first of
all for Eugene Dolny, conductor
of the orchestra and chorus,
then for his co-workers, Dance
Director Walter Balay together
with Stan and Betsy Kuchar-
chuk and Jerry Prociw.

If you had to miss this sig-
nificant Centennial Concert: plan
to attend Showcase at the North
York Centennial Centre, May
26 and 27, when the whole en-
semble will take part. Or catch
them at Expo 67 where they will
perform on July 14-15-16.—D.S.

ILLUSIONS

By STANISLAV HOLY
(Prague)

Whither Chiné

BY R. PALME DUTT

A veteran analyst of world oto
writes on the meaning of recent eve” ™
in Chino.

prithe ;

INFORMATION BULLETIN, NO: 9°

Available from

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May 19, 1967—PACIFIC Thy