A flash mob of 200 classical musicians led by a renowned Russian-British conductor performed three Ukrainian compositions in Trafalgar Square on Sunday to protest the Russian invasion.
Pyotr Limonov led an orchestra featuring violinist Jennifer Pike and composer Gabriel Prokofiev on horn in front of hundreds of spectators gathered around a makeshift stage at the foot of the National Gallery in central London.
“There are so many people in Russia right now who don’t mind being put in jail for protesting this war,” Limonov said.
Jennifer Pike, Pyotr Limonov, Juliet Barclay, Yaga Klimashevskaya and Eva Pires at the Music for Peace concert in Trafalgar Square. Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian“I get all these messages from Russians saying ‘thank you for doing this’ because I’m someone who was born there and actually now I have some chance to deliver my message.
“They were really silenced by the totalitarian machine. It is so powerful and so terrible that their voices will be heard less and less. But it’s not about the Russians, but about supporting Ukraine. Many of my friends are Ukrainians and they still have families in Kyiv and what they are going through right now is hell. We support them.”
“We are currently trying to do our best in this terrible situation, and the only way musicians know is to play,” Pike said. “Today we are talking about solidarity with Ukrainians and all the people who are suffering now. We are trying to show that our hearts are with them. And today we play from the bottom of our hearts.”
Musicians from as far away as Canada have signed up to participate in the Music for Peace event organized by 63-year-old classical music fan Juliet Barclay in just five days.
A group of volunteers raised funds to purchase the rights to perform “Hymn 2001” by Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov, who is believed to be in Kyiv as he continues to be attacked. They also performed the National Anthem of Ukraine and Mykola Lysenko’s “Prayer for Ukraine”, which was originally a choral work and was accompanied by the audience’s singing.
Ukrainian-British clarinetist Anastasia Gould and her mother Irina. Photograph: Jill Mead/The GuardianUkrainian-British clarinetist Anastasia Gould, 16, was one of many amateur musicians who played in the orchestra alongside professionals at the event.
She said: “It’s terrible what is happening to my people, to my country, and just to see everyone, not only Eastern Europeans and Ukrainians, but everyone who comes together, it’s very touching, it’s very nice to see.
“Most of the family on my mother’s side was in [Ukraine]. Most of them have already fled to Poland. I have uncles who are now preparing for war. Some still remain in their hometowns.
“It’s pretty scary to look from the outside when we are here, we are safe, we have our own warm houses, warm beds and to see these people who are afraid for their lives.”
Barclay came up with the idea for the Peace Game after feeling helpless over the growing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and neighboring borders. According to the latest UN data, 1.5 million refugees have left the country since the start of the war.
“I started contacting a narrow group of friends and then I informed all the orchestras in London and music schools to see if we could pull it off,” she said.
A group of violinists take part in the “Music for the World” concert in Trafalgar Square. Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian“For some time there was an unsettling silence, and then real hell began. Peter [Limonov] volunteered to conduct for an hour and then Jennifer Pike came on board. Then we completely, completely choked. In fact, we were only able to organize 200 musicians, and ended up giving up about 500 more.”
Not a single rehearsal was held before the performance, instead relying on “very detailed conductor’s notes” written to music by Limonov.
“[The musicians] were beyond extraordinary,” Barclay said. “Passion for the cause they showed, as well as for each other.
“We had people with disabilities, people with other barriers to participation, helping each other in different ways. It was incredibly touching.”