Ukrainisch oder »kleinrussisch«? Nation und Musik im Zarenreich

Contributors

Program

Photo: Dietmar Neutatz on the terrace of the Gewandhaus Leipzig, where the "Ukrainian Symphony" was premiered in 1876.

We cordially invite you to the eighth evening in the "musik + wissen" series of events organized by the Freiburg Research and Teaching Center for Music(FZM) in cooperation with the Freiburg branch of the German Association for East European Studies (DGO).

Prof. Dr. Dietmar Neutatz, Professor of Modern and Eastern European History at the University campus Freiburg, will speak on the topic "Ukrainian or 'Little Russian'? Nation and music in the Tsarist Empire". The lecture deals with the beginnings of Ukrainian classical music in the late 18th and 19th centuries and addresses its interaction with the formation of the Ukrainian nation. Its existence was officially denied in the Tsarist Empire and the Ukrainian language and culture were marginalized as "Little Russian". The focus is on works that have the term "Ukrainian" in their title or explicitly deal with Ukrainian subjects. The question is under what circumstances these works were created and performed and to what extent they can be regarded as contributions to Ukrainian nation-building.

Related to the lecture are musical contributions by Elza Loginova (voice) and Paolo Brenzinger (piano), both students at the College of Music Freiburg. Also related to the lecture is the concert by the Emmendingen Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, November 23, 2025 in the Steinhalle Emmendingen, which will include a performance of the "Ukrainian Symphony" by Mychailo Kalatschewsky (1876).

The event is open to the public and admission is free. Afterwards there will be an opportunity for a toast and a personal exchange. We are already looking forward to seeing you there!