Vera Lytovchenko has become an internet icon of resilience as images of the concert violinist playing in a basement bomb shelter in Ukraine have inspired an international audience via social media.
Vera Lytovchenko holds her violin as she poses for a photo in a basement of an apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday March 6, 2022.
“Bombs can fall everywhere in our city, so we decided to go down in the cellar,” the 39-year-old violinist told The Associated Press via Skype Wednesday during a brief respite from the bombing during a temporary cease-fire. “We’re about 12 people now. We have little boys. We have teenagers. We have old women.”
Later she thought to post her recitals, featuring the calming strains of Vivaldi and even Lytovchenko singing a Russian folk song, on social media. The reaction surprised her: more than 40,000 views on Facebook and thousands more on YouTube.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sheltering from bombs, Ukraine's 'cellar violinist' plays onROME, Italy (AP) — A gentle tune from a violin played by a musician who has been dubbed Ukraine’s “cellar violinist” is a lullaby for a child sheltered in the dark basement of an apartment building in the besieged Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Read more »
NPR Cookie Consent and Choices
Read more »
Air alert declared in Kyiv as fighting continuesLVIV, Ukraine (AP) — An air alert was declared Wednesday morning in and around Kyiv, with residents urged to get to bomb shelters as quickly as possible. “Kyiv region – air alert. Threat of a missile attack.
Read more »
Ukraine government showing movies to residents sheltering in Kyiv metro stationsThe Ukraine government is showing movies to residents sheltering in the Kyiv metro stations due to the Russian invasion of the country.
Read more »
Idina Menzel reacts to Ukrainian girl singing Frozen's 'Let It Go' from bomb shelterA young girl from Ukraine warmed the hearts of people around the world, including “Frozen” actress Idina Menzel, when she belted out the movie's well-known tune “Let It Go” from a bomb shelter.
Read more »
Russian offensive slows, says Ukraine, as residents flee bombed-out citiesRussia's offensive in Ukraine continued but at a significantly slower pace on Tuesday and a second senior Russian commander had been killed, Ukrainian military and intelligence said, as frightened residents fled bombed-out cities.
Read more »