"Pochayna" choral chapel. Viktor Stepurko. Diptych.

The academic choir “Pochaina” has proved its professional skill more than once – according to chronology, this is its ninth disc. This time the composition of an outstanding modern Ukrainian composer Viktor Stepurko is recorded. The album contains “Confessional Liturgy” for an elocutionist, soloists, a choir, an organ, a symphony orchestra in ten parts and “the Blessed Virgin’s Dogmata of the 17th century” for a choir and a symphony orchestra. “Confessional Liturgy” is devoted to hetman Ivan Mazepa, while “Dogmata” – to Dmitriy Tuptalo (St. Dmitriy Rostovskyi). Thus, looking into the eyes of the past, trying to conceive these two outstanding historic persons, Viktor Stepurko tries to paint future. Judging by the way this diptych sound, for the composer the Ukrainian future seems to be nice. There’s some anxiety, search and fight – but everything comes to catharsis and pure beauty. Well, let’s hope that the talent of a prophet is also peculiar to this gifted composer.