There could have been no more suitable location for Light in Darkness II, a benefit concert for Ukraine, than the Korzo Theater, situated in the heart of the city of peace and international justice. Organised by Veronika Rakitina and her partner Vladyslav Detiuchenko it brought together a group of exiled Ukrainian, and other artists, who demonstrated the rich vein of talent that is struggling for survival in their beleaguered country.
In 2023 the first Light in Darkness raised €20,000 through ticket sales and the sale of a limited edition print collection created exclusively for the event by renowned Dutch artist Casper Faassen. The money bought an ambulance which continues to serve in Ukraine to this day.
The packed Korzo audience was, of course, happy to listen to the speeches, explanations and appeals but it was the performers from Netherlands, Turkey, Italy, Poland and, of course, Ukraine that they had come to see, and they were not disappointed.
The evening got under way with Au vent sur la pointe des pieds, part of the Fetus Études, a recent cycle of piano pieces composed by Maxim Shalygin. This one-voice piece requires impressive technical feats and concentration from the performer and the brilliant playing by Antonii Baryshevskyi mesmerized the audience with skills and dexterity which would astound even non-pianists.
Eve-Marie Dalcourt performed Jacopo Godani’s Postgenoma which was followed by For What is to Come from Daria Koval, Monika Witkowska and Maciej Kuźmiński which portrayed the power of compassion and support in the face of an individual’s crisis.
Ukrainian International Ballet dancers performed the excellent de/het/één by Richèl Wieles. Working in four pairs it was refreshing to see so many classical dance moves at the Korzo. The theatre has probably not seen so many arabesques, pirouettes, sautés, temps lié or so much pointe work in one evening for a very long time.
After the interval Rutkay Özpinar’s fast moving solo Aphorisms, to an atmospheric soundscape by Elisa Batti, took inspiration from the whirling thoughts that constantly appear and disappear in his head .
But the star of the evening was undoubtedly Veronika Rakitina. Not only did she organise this event with her partner Vladyslav Detiuchenko but as a dancer she was an outstanding soloist in de/het/één. She also shone in Everglow, choreographed by Vladyslav Detiuchenko, with which the pair rounded off the show. The climax featured some amazing projections onto Korzo’s huge back concrete wall and finished with the two dancers in total darkness apart from two LED lights attached to their heads, like those used by rescue workers searching in the rubble of destroyed buildings. This moving, heart-felt piece unequivocally conveyed the hopes and fears of the Ukrainian people who, in the face of recent events, face an even more challenging situation.
During the interval we were able to see a series of etchings donated by Berlin-based artist Miriam Tölke from her Toyobo-Print Edition and to watch a couple of short films in the small room off the Korzo foyer.
Michael Hasted, 2nd March 2025
If you would like more information, want to help or donate to the people of Ukraine there is an organisation to help you do so. The Netherlands4Ukraine Foundation can be found here
There is also a six-page feature on Light in Darkness II in the March edition of ArtsTalk Colour Supplement which can be seen here for free
