THE CULTURAL MISSION OF SINGER ZORYANA KUSHPLER

Abstract

The article highlights the cultural mision of the world-famous opera and chamber singer (mezzo-soprano) of Ukrainian origin (Lviv), honorary president of the Galician Music Society, professor of singing at the Mozarteum University (Salzburg, Austria) Zoryana Kushpler. The significance of the vocalist’s civic position, both in terms of her life and work, was emphasised. After all, despite the fact that Zoryana Igorivna has been a prima donna of European opera houses for more than 15 years, she makes a significant conrtibution to the popularisation of the music of her Motherland. The singer’s active promotion of opera and song works by Ukrainian composers and national folk music is substantiated. In particular, Zoryana Kushpler has recently released an album unique for the world music culture, Ukrainian InterMezzo, which is considered the first such example in the world with Ukrainian repertoire for mezzo-soprano accompanied by an orchestra. In addition, since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the artist has performed about 40 charity concerts in different European countries. Zoryana Kushpler also regularly holds masterclasses for young singers in her native Lviv, and in December 2023 she chaired the jury of the V. Slipak All- Ukrainian Competition for Young Singers. The context of the formation of the singer’s creative style is analysed. Zoryana Kushpler acquired her vocal skills under the guidance of her father, a famous singer, People’s Artist of Ukraine and professor of the Department of Solo Singing at the Mykola Lysenko Lviv National Music Academy, Ihor Kushpler. It is to her father that the artist owes much of her professional skills and her first success on the opera stage at the Lviv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre named after S. Krushelnytska, where I. Kushpler was a longtime soloist. Subsequently, the artist improved her vocal training at the Hamburg Higher School of Music under the guidance of one of the best vocal teachers, German-American soprano Judith Beckmann, and took part in masterclasses of the Spanish opera diva Teresa Berganzi. The main vectors of the singer’s cultural mission have been determaned, which are represented by her performing (participation in various festivals and concerts, recording CDs with Ukrainian music), pedagogical (holding master classes for young Ukrainian singers) and public (organising charity concerts and tours in Europe and America) practices.