Kyiv Orchestra Brings Hopeful Harmony To Ruined Children’s Hospital With “Ave Maria”

Music has a remarkable way of finding its way into the most unexpected places, even in the most unusual of settings. Imagine a dilapidated hospital, once filled with the echoes of healing and hope, now silent except for the gentle strains of a melody.

Whether it’s a makeshift performance by a musician in an abandoned ward or a group of patients finding solace in a spontaneous sing-along, music has a unique ability to uplift and inspire, regardless of the surroundings.

A moving scene of music is seen on 12 July 2024 as the Kyiv Classic Orchestra performed amidst the ruins of the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in central Kyiv. It’s noticeable that the facility was the largest children’s medical center in Ukraine, dedicated to treating pediatric cancer.

In the clip, we see the orchestra, led by conductor Herman Makarenko, delivered a stirring performance of Vivaldi’s “Summer” from The Four Seasons and Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” This special event, titled “Requiem for the Deceased,” was a powerful expression of both grief and hope.

The orchestra, known for their performances at The National Opera of Ukraine and The National House of Organ and Chamber Music, used this performance as a form of peaceful protest, demonstrating that music can still provide solace and strength even in the darkest of times.

“I will try to do everything so that this hospital will come to life, there will be mothers and children here again, so that there will be hope for recovery and salvation,” Volodymyr Zhovnir, Director-General of Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, said.