Ukrainian singer Nina Matvienko dies
On the morning of Sunday, October 8, it became known that the prominent Ukrainian singer and actress Nina Matvienko had died. She was 75 years old
This was reported by the singer’s daughter Tonya Matvienko.
“My mom died,” she wrote.
The daughter did not provide details about her mother’s death.
Nina Matvienko did not live to see her 76th birthday by only 2 days.
What contribution did Nina Matvienko make to the culture of Ukraine?
The Ukrainian singer began her career as a soloist at the vocal studio of the Hryhoriy Veriovka State Ukrainian Folk Academic Choir. A new period in her creative life is associated with her work in the National Ensemble of Soloists “Kyiv Camerata”, where she has been a soloist since 1991. The surprisingly expressive nature of the singer’s folk singing is harmoniously combined with the academic style of the Camerata.
In 1975, Matvienko graduated from the Faculty of Philology of Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv by correspondence and is actively engaged in literary work. Back in Soviet times, Nina Matvienko wrote a history of the Hryhorii Veriovka Folk Choir and published several of her own poems, stories, and essays.
The singer’s pinnacle literary achievement was her biographical book “Oh, I Plow a Wide Field,” published in 2003 by the Ukrainian Center for Folk Culture “Ivan Honchar Museum.” The book contains song and music material from his own repertoire. The singer’s repertoire includes many folk songs, including ceremonial, lyrical, humorous, and ballad songs.
In addition, Matvienko was a skilled actress. She acted in the TV shows Marusya Churai and Kateryna Bilokur, feature films Straw Bells and The Missing Letter, and radio plays. The singer has voiced a number of popular science and documentary films, several TV and radio programs. In 1984, she participated in the creation of the Ukrainian cartoon Lullaby.
In 1988, a movie with Nina Matvienko was made called Rusalka’s Week. Among the actress’s author’s theatrical and directorial works are the musical performance Under the Sun with the participation of Japanese dancer Tadashi Endo, as well as the grandiose musical and stage performance We Will Sow the Golden Stone.
Nina Matvienko’s creative career was recognized in 1978: for her great contribution to the development of Ukrainian art and for her active cultural and creative work, the singer was awarded the title of Honored Artist, and in 1985 she was named People’s Artist of Ukraine. In 2016, she was also awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Kyiv.
In 2006, then-President Viktor Yushchenko awarded the singer the title of Hero of Ukraine “for her supreme song talent, which awakens and exalts the spiritual power of the Ukrainian people.” Matviyenko participated in the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan.
Also, Nina Matvienko’s voice was featured in many films and, especially, cartoons produced in Ukraine. One of the latter is the voice of the narrator in Mavka. The Forest Song, which the audience hears almost from the beginning of the cartoon.
