When she gives the interview, Vera Lytovchenko is worried. She can hear the shelling above Kharkiv. “A few hours ago, they really weren’t very far from where I am,” she says, her throat tight. And yet she keeps hope for her country, hope that she cultivates with great strokes of the bow.
resistance through music
More than two weeks ago, while taking refuge in the basement of her building, Vera decided to play the violin for her father and his neighbors in the shelter. And then she thought of her friends, in other cities, and decided to post her videos on sto Youtube channel. But in reality, thousands of people have been able to enjoy his music.
“A lot of Ukrainians have seen my videos,” she admits, surprised. She receives hundreds of thank you messages. She adds: “When they see me playing here, in this cellar, they feel less alone. And then they can feel my determination and my strength, and I think that inspires them. »
Videos that have gone around the world
But his interpretations of Vivaldi or Tchaikovsky, which resonate on the raw walls of this dark cellar, moved well beyond Ukraine. Every day she receives messages from strangers asking her how to help threatened civilians.
“I would like to use my notoriety to raise funds. I would like this money to be used to rebuild the houses of my friends, and to pay for new instruments for the musicians who lost them in this war. But for now, it’s impossible to talk about reconstruction. We can just think about the future, hoping it’s just normal. »
“Every day, our culture is getting stronger and stronger”
Sunday, on social networks, she saw the orchestra of Odessa give a concert in the streets by 0 ° C. “They were playing for people, for hope and above all, to be heard.” She is sure Ukrainian culture is getting stronger: “I get messages from people who want to hear more Ukrainian music. The war, I am sure, has made us more proud and united. Every day, our culture is getting stronger and stronger. »
In a serious tone she adds: “It’s very difficult not to think about the war. “. She knows that music cannot make her city in ruins forget, but she will continue to play because, she says, “we need to be heard”.