Alla Landar: "Farewell with national love - Nina Matviyenko, the protector of Ukrainian folk song"
This morning, thousands of people lined up at the doors of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine to say goodbye to the legendary singer and national love Nina Matviyenko. Ukrainian singer and actress, People's Artist of Ukraine, People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, laureate of the State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR named after Tarasa Shevchenko, Hero of Ukraine, Honorary Citizen of Kyiv, member of the Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine, laureate of numerous titles, awards and honors. But no brilliant awards are able to fully appreciate what the Lord himself endowed with - beauty and voice, a voice familiar to everyone from childhood, in which the suffering and tender soul of Ukraine was embodied. Therefore, Nina Matvienko's song, becoming a hallmark of Ukrainian folklore, often sounded sad and often even dramatic, because it told about the difficult path of the people, about human destinies and experiences.
"Farewell to the People's Artist of Ukraine began today, October 10, in a narrow circle in the St. Theodosius Monastery, where an all-night reading of the Psalter was held in the presence of family members and people closest to Nina Mitrofanivna," says Alla Landar, owner of the Peter the Great ritual company , whose company organized the farewell procession, president of the International Association of Funeral Professionals, National Member from Ukraine in the World Federation of Funeral Directors (FIAT-IFTA), member of the Federation of Directors of Funeral Homes (NFDA, USA), Honored Worker of the Service Sector of Ukraine.
And the National Philharmonic welcomed everyone who wanted to pay their last respects to the beloved singer already in the morning with a sea of flowers, a gallery of photos, an endless stream of people to the amazing singing of the magical voice of Nina Matvienko herself, live symphonic sound and professional choral singing. In front of the entrance, as well as in the building itself, the photo and video camera lenses of numerous media representatives, television channels and news agencies were lined up.
"All of Ukraine is praying today for the repose of the soul of Berehyna of the Ukrainian folk song Nina Matviyenko," continues Alla Landar. - Heaven blessed Nina Mitrofanivna with a voice of rare timbre and beauty. Her singing, pure soul is now remembered with sincere words of love by thousands of fans in our country and around the world, where representatives of numerous Ukrainian communities are now with us. Only with time will we be able to comprehend the greatness of this loss. A great and vulnerable soul is leaving us, filled with light and love for everyone."
Incredible emotional charge, love for one's fellow man and all-pervading life energy inspired every audience both in the concert hall, regardless of age, and at the television screen, and the older generations remember the first acquaintance with the singer from the speakers of the kitchen radio transmitter. Indeed, even every remote rural dwelling was filled with the melody and charm of Ukrainian folk song by her voice for more than half a century...
Her personality and genius of talent, exclusivity and recognizability of her voice will go down in our history. These are the eternal values that every nation protects and that it needs so much during the struggle against the aggressor for the very existence of the nation, its faith, its language and its unique soul, embodied in its highest manifestation - folklore with a folk song and live a cappella singing...
All around the snow-white coffin are vases with bouquets from the singer's fans, ikeban compositions of fresh flowers, the shine of candlestick glass and the solemnity of porcelain candelabra with large candles, and in the depths of the hall, a stopped majestic two-meter clock reminded of the last minute of the singer's life...
The guests of the farewell ceremony were met by the exhibition "Chronicle of Life" with moments of life and creative journey in photo galleries, family photos, personal belongings, awards and antique furniture. The presented exposition is a gallery of creative victories of one Person, one life, one path, inseparable from the fate of his people... on the threshold of eternity. Here is a still very young Nina in the photo, and next to her in the family circle, further - in concert and stage clothes, joyful, smiling, happy... and unforgettable.
The bright, solemn and unforgettable atmosphere in the hall was not created by the organizers by chance. The daughter of the artist, singer and actress Antonina Matvienko said that her mother was an example for her: "She has a very big heart... Thank you for making such a contribution to Ukraine. I will listen to her songs and know that she is near. Thanks to her for everything. She really asked that no one cry at the funeral. She asked them to remember something good."
During the farewell ceremony, a dedication was read by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, who also expressed his condolences to the family with the belief that the "unsurpassed authentic and truly magical voice" of Nina Matvienko will remain with Ukrainians forever.
Humanity, majestic talent, sincerity of truth, folk roots, singing soul, true friend and adviser, unforgettable, beloved, native... With these words, Nina Mitrofanivna began their dedications on the pages of the book "Man of the Era" during the farewell ceremony by her relatives and friends, colleagues in stage and cinema, popular performers, politicians, scientists and culture workers, soldiers from the fronts, friends, acquaintances, numerous fans. Everyone wrote in the language of their heart...
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, singer and presenter Anzhelika Rudnytska, performers Svitlana Bilonozhko, Kamaliya, Dmytro Monatyk, Valentina Kovalska, conductor Yevhen Savchuk, head of the Verivka National Choir Ihor Kuryliv, musician Oleg « were among the first to say goodbye. Mykhailouta's bassoon... They went and went to say goodbye.
Hundreds of fans came, and there is a lot to admire and respect. The singer has dozens of folk songs in her repertoire, including ceremonial, lyrical, humorous, ballad songs, and Ukrainian songs of the XVII-XVIII centuries. She carried their folk sound and Ukrainian spirit around the world together with a piece of Ukraine. In addition to the stages of the states of the former Union, the halls of Mexico, Canada, the USA, the Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria, Finland, Sweden, Korea, France, Brazil, Argentina, and Latin American countries obeyed her.
Nina Matvienko, her musical soul and open heart, multiplied by powerful work capacity and constant search, were open to any musical experiments. That is why she did not limit her creativity to folk songs and works of the past. She collaborated with well-known contemporary domestic composers and performed the works of Yevhen Stankovich, Oleg Kyva, Myroslav Skoryk, Iryna Kirilina, Anna Havrylets and many others.
As an actress, she will be remembered by us for the films "Cuckoo with a diploma", "Not a year will pass", "Farewell to the Pharaohs", "Further flight of arrows" and others. And her unforgettable vocals and professional dubbing will remind you of yourself from the films "Tronka", "Lost Certificate", "Candle Wedding", "Black Council", "Sorochyn Fair", "Mavka. Forest song", played in the TV shows "Marusya Churai", "Kateryna Bilokur", "Water spilled on four fords".
She also found time for politics - in the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada, she was active not only on the stage - she chaired the jury of the International Competition of Ukrainian Romance named after Kvitka Tsysyk, headed the Expert Council of the International Charity Festival of Talents "Divosvit", she also found time for the Union of Cinematographers. The circle of interests, occupations, vocations was never limited to anything...
"Let's pray on her last day on Earth together with the family of Nina Matvienko for the repose of her soul and the Kingdom of God for the Woman-era. May eternal memory and glory shine for her, she will forever remain in our hearts as the soul of the nation and a child with a big heart. Alla Landar urged. - The voice of a living legend will forever fly over us like "wild geese" over Ukraine, together with her "magical violin", "untangled braid" and "grey-winged dove".
