Ukrainian soprano’s charity performance packs opera house [Video]

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JAPAN UKRAINE OPERA

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
LENGTH: 3:24
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo, Japan – 15 April 2022
1. Various of Ukrainian opera singer Oksana Stepanyuk singing
2. Close rear view of audience clapping
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Oksana Stepanyuk, Ukrainian opera singer:
“This song has no words, and I believe that even I don’t have to say any words it’s gonna be like a prayer. This melody it’s prayer for my country. It’s a prayer for the whole world. I’m praying for peace and I’m praying for victory.”
4. Various of Stepanyuk playing traditional Ukrainian instrument
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Oksana Stepanyuk, Ukrainian opera singer:
“This charity concert is very special for me, because I will support through my music, I will support Ukrainian people and of course I very much appreciate all my fans that came to this concert.”
6. Mid of Stepanyuk and Japanese tenor Masafumi Akikawa singing together
7. Various of Stepanyuk and Akikawa bowing to audiences
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Oksana Stepanyuk, Ukrainian opera singer:
“I know if I sing from my heart and I pray for Ukraine, the prayer will reach to the Ukrainian nation. And I believe in our victory I believe that the Ukrainian nation will be supported by my voice.”
9. Wide of Stepanyuk and Akikawa collecting donations
10. Close of Stepanyuk with Ukrainian-flag color mask
11. Close of donation boxes
12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Hiroshi Kubota, audience member:
“I clearly felt her message of trying to address the horrors of what’s happening with prayer and song.”
13. Wide of Stepanyuk rehearsing  
14. Close of piano
15. Close of Stepanyuk singing
16. Close of Ukrainian flag
LEADIN:
Japanese music lovers have flocked to support a Ukrainian opera singer raising money for her country with a charity performance.
The award winning soprano Oksana Stepanyuk is performing concerts in Tokyo, to packed audiences.
STORYLINE:
Oksana Stepanyuk sings Ukrainian song which has no words at the Kokubunji Izumi Hall in Tokyo
The award-winning soprano is performing a series of concerts to raise money for her home nation which is devastated by the war with Russia.
With the Japan Opera Foundation she performs “Melody,” a composition by Ukrainian musician Myroslav Skoryk.
Her voice turns into a wail of mourning, a pensive but piercing prayer for her homeland.
“This song has no words, and I believe that even I don’t have to say any words it’s gonna be like a prayer. This melody it’s prayer for my country. It’s a prayer for the whole world. I’m praying for peace and I’m praying for victory,” says Stepanyuk.
She says she is crying through the melody for people who have been killed by the war.
Stepanyuk, who has been singing in Japan for two decades, is dedicating her latest series of concerts to peace.  
Stepanyuk says: “This charity concert is very special for me, because I will support through my music, I will support Ukrainian people and of course I very much appreciate all my fans that came to this concert.”
The admission is free, but the packed crowd are keen to give cash to her cause, stuffing money into the blue and yellow boxes at the door.
The collection is to ensure donations of water, food and medicine for people affected by the war in Ukraine.  
According to Stepanyuk music has no borders.
Stepanyuk is a graduate of the Pyotr Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine.
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