Chester Concert to Support Ukrainian Children’s Hospitals

An upcoming collaboration between a world-famous Bond girl and a celebrated musician from Ukraine has been designed to raise funds for children’s hospitals in the war-torn country.

Taking place at Chester’s Storyhouse, the event, entitled “The Spirit of Ukraine”, will feature Maryam d’Abo, who played Kara Milovy opposite Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights. She will be joined by composer and pianist Alla Sirenko.

The concert will be hosted by former BBC newsreader and author Diana Mather and includes a programme of traditional Ukrainian folk songs, well-known classical operatic duets and arias, poetry readings and original music by Sirenko. The live performances will be accompanied by a visual display of imagery of Ukraine by Paul Cascarino. The event is made possible by the joint efforts of the UK’s Ukrainian Cultural Association, the Rotary Club of Tarporley and District.

Sirenko was born in Lviv and is a graduate of three individual conservatories. She was composer in residence at the Lviv Opera House and her ballets and opera were part of the famous theatre’s repertoire. She has created film scores for Sony, Warner and EMI, and her fantasy opera designed for children called “The Golden Penguin” premiered at London’s Royal Opera House in London.

The composer is also the president and Founder of the Ukrainian Cultural Association in the United Kingdom and her continuing aim is to simultaneously raise funds for her people and homeland, while promoting the best Ukrainian talent.

The Spirit of Ukraine will be held at Storyhouse on Friday, November 25 from 7 pm onwards.