Dalia Stasevska made her Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut on December 8, leading music of Andrea Tarrodi, Tchaikovsky, and Bartók. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
Six weeks ago, conductor Dalia Stasevska “was driving a van filled with supplies into war-torn Ukraine, her homeland. Last weekend, she made her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducting a trio of concerts,” writes Neil Steinberg in Wednesday’s (12/13) Chicago Sun-Times. “ ‘It was fantastic,’ she said. ‘This is a legendary orchestra. I grew up listening to their recordings.’ Born in Kyiv, she grew up in Finland and trained as a violinist. She has conducted around the world, but this is her first visit to Chicago; she was grateful for the blue and yellow flags on display…. When the Russians invaded Ukraine earlier this year, Stasevska [recalls], ‘I was just on my way to conduct the Seattle orchestra. I seriously thought of canceling all my concerts. The Seattle Symphony Orchestra was really kind to me. They called me and asked, “What can we do to help Ukraine?” It made me think: I cannot change the world and stop this war with music. But I can use my mouth and speak out.’ ”
