Rites of Spring: Deborah Voight And Singing Mussel Trumped By Ruslana And Her Black-Leather And Rabbitt-Pelted Singing And Dancing Scyths [or Slavs?]

Spring weather intervened, and, sadly, I was not able to listen to Deborah Voight star in Richard Strauss's and Hugo von Hofmannsthal's "Die Aegyptische Helena [1928]," from the MET Opera, this past Saturday afternoon. Instead, we caught live performances, in Washington, D.C., by Ruslana Lyzhychko and other highly-talented Lviv, Ukraine, art-rock musicians; as well as Slovakian Carpathian folk musicians and Russian Federation popular singers.

In 1996, Ruslana staged a single concert with a rock-band, symphonic orchestra and choir, dedicated to the five hundredth anniversary of the Renaissance Epoque in Europe. The event took place in an ancient castle in Western Ukraine and on a set provided by the L'viv Opera Company.




























Deborah Voight, above, and Ruslana Lyzhychko, below. It is assumed that Ruslana, now a Parliamentarian and UNESCO Ambassador, as well as the Eurovision 2004 winning song-writer and music star, now wears panties when she performs on stage.

Photo credits: Newsday and www.brama.com. With thanks.