The Yale Rusian Chorus, North America's oldest Slavic choir, will be performing for the first time ever in Chapel Hill. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 8 at the Unity Center of Peace, according to a press release published by the center.
This world-renowned chorus was founded in 1953 in the midst of the Cold War. The audience can expect to hear a combination of different Russian Orthodox music highlighting Russian history and providing non-Russians with a window into Eastern culture. Raymond Gao, the manager of the chorus, said audience members can also expect a bit of wit and humor expressed through acting, props and audience interactions.
Gao is also a member of the chorus. He said Slavic music can capture Russian culture, allowing the performers to act as ambassadors, imparting an understanding of a new culture onto audience members.
"We are singing songs from over 1,000 years ago, preserving them for future generations," Gao said. "I hope the audience is open-minded and ready to experience and learn things they may not be familiar with.”
Jean Fisher, the office manager at the Unity Center of Peace, said the center is excited to have the chorus perform. Fisher believes that performances, such as the choruses, are important to have in order to create a common ground, by allowing us to experience many cultures and focus on what we share, rather than what we assume will be different.
"It has very powerful melodies, so I think people will have a lot of fun,” Fisher said. “I'm sure many people here have not heard this music before. So I'm just really excited for the opportunity to have them perform here."
The chorus is on tour and will be making several stops in the Triangle area, however, their performance at the Unity Center of Peace will be the only one that is open to the public. Tickets are on sale for $15, students are able to attend for $10 with their student ID.
