UPF Upper Austria organised a charity literature concert in the seminar house of the Austrian Family Federation “Schmied an der Straß” in Gaflenz.Admission was voluntary donations for UPF-Ukraine’s school projects.
The aim and purpose of these school projects in Ukraine, which are made at various schools in Kiev and the surrounding area, is to create a safe and peaceful place for the children in this war environment, where they can be taught warmly and protected.
The horn quartet “Traunklang” conducted by Albert Heitzinger performed pieces by many well-known composers, such as Mozart, Bach and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. The soft yet very powerful sound of the horns filled the large hall of the seminar centre, which has very good acoustics.
Natalia Sonyashnyk, who fled Ukraine with her children and mother more than a year ago and found her first “home” in Gaflenz, recited poems by Ivan Franko, Taras Shevchenko, Lesja Ukrainka, Dmytro Pavlychko and Lina Kostenko in her mother tongue. Maria Pammer gave a short introduction to the person of each poet for the audience and recited the poems in German translation.
Mr. Peter Haider, President of UPF-Austria, welcomed the guests and shared impressions of his visit to Kiev. Good conversations then ensued over the Austrian-Ukrainian buffet.
This event had two aims:
– People can experience joy through music and literature and get to know the not very well known Ukrainian literature. At the same time, they can support UPF Ukraine’s school project with their voluntary donation.
– In addition, it was a first step to make the Gaflenz Seminar Centre of the Austrian Family Federation, with decades of history, a public attraction for the people in the near and far surroundings again after a long restoration work.
