Maria Levitska, Set and Costume Designer
Maria Levitska is the fourth generation of a Kyiv family of artists who has
dedicated her life to creating stage designs that seek unity with nature. Ms.
Levitska's first ballet production in 1983 was The Magic Dream at the National
Opera of Ukraine, launching her long association with the National Opera culminating
in her appointment as Director of Stage Design in 1989. Recent tours of the
Kyiv Ballet to Canada, Japan, France and Spain have featured her stunning sets
and costumes for both Cinderella and Mazeppa. Ms. Levitska's involvement as
costume and set designer for THE NUTCRACKER, a ballet fantasy, an artistic collaboration
between the Kyiv Ballet and Shumka, inspired her to become involved in Shumka's
Cinderella.
As one critic said of her work, "Her every creation is imbued with a special
kind of spirituality. She soars into lofty transcendental spheres where she
seeks such an understanding of a particular production that lies outside the
here and now."
Yuri Shevchenko, Music Composer & Arranger
Shumka continues to chart new musical courses with the commissioning of original
music. Creating a marvellous score in 1995 for Absolutely Shumka, composer Yuri
Shevchenko has once again created a score which exemplifies Shumka's Cinderella.
Based in Kyiv, Mr. Shevchenko is acknowledged as one of the leading talents
in the Ukrainian classical and theatrical music scene.
Upon completion of his studies at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music, he
was accepted into the Partnership of Composers of Ukraine, and in 1991, was
named laureate of the Lesia Ukrainka Festival. His present work has earned him
coveted national prizes for Best Musical Composition for Theatre and in 1998
he was awarded the distinction of Merited Artist of Ukraine for his expansive
musical contributions.
In creating the lyrical symphonic score for this production, Mr. Shevchenko
composed original music, and arranged, orchestrated and integrated traditional
folk melodies. Using digital audio technology, the music for Shumka's Cinderella
was recorded as performed by the 57-piece Kyiv City Symphony at the Dovzhenko
Film Studio in Kyiv and is now available on CD.
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