Hometown: Kyiv, UA
Label: Komora Ltd.
Management: Nazar Stryhun
Sounds Like: Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox, PJ Harvey, Beth Gibbons, Radiohead
Genre: World
In contemporary Ukrainian music Halyna and Lesya Telnyuk have unique status. Critics have qualified the artists' work as "a breath of fresh air", "a tonic against dispair", and "a mystery play of word and music", appropriately terming them "the last bastion of true poetry and music in the domain of the contemporary Ukrainian song". The Telnyuk Sisters' concerts represent unique literary-musical compositions, a synthesis of poetry and song.
They feature accomplished standing and explore wide-ranging concerns, such as the place of the poet in totalitarian society, internal freedom as a prerequisite for creativity, the question of a search for oneself, for a sence of being: The concert-goer is emmerced into an extraordinary atmosphere, as thought she/he were present at some esoteric happening for those who are privy to a secret, yet at the same time is left with the feeling of being part of a circle of good friends. This is the result of the delicate and sincere dialogue that the duet conducts with their audience.
The sisters are called "dissidents of show-business" and "banished princesses". They insist on poetry for their lyrics and (unlike the predominant practice) prefere "live" performances, maintaing high aesthetic and professional standards and principles. The audience has responded warmly to the musical stance declared by the Telnyuk Sisters. Their concerts in Ukraine always draw capacity crowds.
“Audiences may not always understand the words, but they’re sure to be moved by The Telnyuk Sisters, whose evocative music and performances break down language barriers.
“It’s very powerful and passionate,” said Tracy Jenkins, co-artistic director at Toronto’s Lula Lounge where the duo from Kyiv, Ukraine perform Tuesday as part of LULAWORLD 2013. “We were struck by the beauty of the music and its power. Audiences will feel it too.””
Leslie Ferenc GTA - THESTAR.COM: ukrainian duo the telnyuk sisters breaking down language barriers
“When we planned the new program, it was as an intellectual provocation from the very beginning, an alternative to all what is happening on the modern Ukrainian stage. But we could not foresee such a powerful and exceptional effect – the effect of explosion, fascination, tears, awe...
The idea of writing a press release came to our mind while we went on a concert tour of many Ukrainian cities.”
Nazar Stryhun - ROAD OF GLASS: press release
“The result is a creative programme so diverse and unadorned you can’t help but feel as though a bold naked truth is being revealed. “These are songs of love – it’s the only feeling that enables people to live. We can only live when filled with the happiness to love and be loved, and this power is present in Oksana’s Zabuzhko poetry and in our music.”..”
Kateryna Kyselyova - WHAT'S ON: two voices, one road