Music as a space for dialogue and resilience
On 10 March 2026, an Austrian-Ukrainian classical concert at the Austrian Embassy in the Netherlands brought together artists, the diplomatic community and a culturally engaged audience.
The concert featured Ukrainian pianist Ivan Petrenko and Austrian violinist Natascha Pichler. The programme combined masterpieces from Austria’s rich musical heritage — including works by Johann Joseph Vilsmayr, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Fritz Kreisler — with compositions by prominent Ukrainian composers such as Lev Revutsky and Valentyn Silvestrov. The evening concluded with the well-known “Melody” by Myroslav Skoryk.
The programme created a symbolic bridge across cultures and historical periods, highlighting music as a universal language. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Bert Theuermann emphasized music’s unique power to bring people together and express shared humanity. In his closing remarks, Ambassador Andrij Kostin underlined the role of music and art in strengthening resilience.
The event gathered a diverse audience, including members of the Ukrainian and Austrian communities, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and international organisations. Among the attendees were ambassadors from Germany, the United States, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece, Italy, Moldova, El Salvador, Uruguay, the Netherlands and Chile, as well as high-level representatives of international institutions, including the International Criminal Court.
The concert was warmly received by the audience. The final piece, “Melody” by Myroslav Skoryk, was particularly moving and left a lasting impression.
A reception following the concert provided an opportunity for further exchange and networking.
Pictures were provided by the organizer.