Sing and Tell at St. John’s in the Village
By Kelly Craig
VIRA SLYWOTZKY, above, is an immensely talented, charismatic performer who transforms herself, and captivates her audience with her songs and tales in English, French, Ukrainian and Italian. Photo by Arthur Schwartz.
Brava, Vira Slywotzky, on her November 17th performance at St. John’s in the Village! Sing and Tell with contralto Vira Slywotzky and pianist David Sytkowski is multi-genre showcase of story and song.
Vira’s powerful voice and amazing range, along with her emotion, presence, and charm were spellbinding. Her accompanist, David Sytkowski, was flawless, and completely in sync with Vira’s energy and performance. Vira maximized the intimate setting and truly connected with her audience.
Vira is an immensely talented, charismatic performer who transforms herself, and captivates her audience with her songs and tales in English, French, Ukrainian, and Italian. She ended her intense performance, which included a musical rendition of Emily Dickenson’s poetry, with a “Cabaret and Downtown,” inviting audience participation.
She has performed principal roles with major American companies such as the Seattle Opera, the Chautauqua Opera, the Sarasota Opera, as well as concerts and cabarets in New York City, including at Carnegie Hall. She has toured the United States, Canada, France, Hungary, Sweden and Wales. She has won several awards including the BBC Singer of the World Competition in 2009. It is a rare treat to have someone like her performing locally.
Raised in Cambridge Mass, Vira also has roots in Ukraine, and has been fundraising and serving as a cultural ambassador for Ukraine.
Vira’s next performance will be February 22, 2025, at St. John’s in the Village. Be sure not to miss this!
Check out her website: www.viraslywotzky.com
