100 Years of Ukraine’s Cultural Diplomacy: The European Mission of the Ukrainian Republican Capella (1919–1921)
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Date
2019
Authors
Peresunko, Tina
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
The article deals with the reputational, cultural, and informational resonance of the
Ukrainian Republican Capella’s tours conducted by Oleksandr Koshyts in Western
Europe from 1919 to 1921. The Ukrainian Republican Capella was created on the
initiative of Symon Petliura, Head of the Directorate, Chief Otaman of the Army and
Navy of the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR), to promote international recognition
of Ukraine’s independence and the image of Ukrainian culture in the world. It gave 208
concerts in 74 of the most prestigious concert halls of 45 European cities. More than
600 reviews complimentary of Ukraine, Ukrainian state institutions, and Ukrainian
culture appeared on the pages of the leading Western European press, and Ukrainian
diplomatic missions abroad as well as the Capella’s office received hundreds of letters
from leading European artists and politicians with enthusiastic reviews on its musical
art and UNR aspirations for independence. The author provides little-known archival
documents of the Ukrainian Republican Capella Foundation at the Central State
Archives of the Supreme Bodies of the Government of Ukraine (CSASB of Ukraine),
covering institutional, legal, financial and diplomatic support of the Capella abroad
as part of Symon Petliura’s and the UNR Directory’s policy of cultural diplomacy, and
suggests that foreign tours of the Capella should be considered as the first project of
cultural diplomacy in the history of modern Ukraine.
Description
Keywords
Ukrainian cultural diplomacy, Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian Republican Capella, Oleksandr Koshyts, Symon Petliura, Shchedryk, article
Citation
Peresunko T. 100 Years of Ukraine’s Cultural Diplomacy: The European Mission of the Ukrainian Republican Capella (1919–1921) [electronic resource] / Tina Peresunko // Kyiv-Mohyla Humanities Journal. - 2019. - Issue 6. - P. 69-89. - https://doi.org/10.18523/kmhj189010.2019-6.69-89