“LICHTZWANG”
Concert marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
The Ukrainian Institute in Germany invites you to the concert “LICHTZWANG” on February 25, 2026, at St. Nikolaikirche in Potsdam. The program will be presented by renowned Ukrainian musicians and is dedicated to the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine.
Photos: Malte Seidel
The concert program features works by composers such as Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, Wojciech Kilar, Valentyn Silvestrov, Maxim Shalygin, and others.
When? February 25, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Where? St. Nicholas’ Church Potsdam, Am Alten Markt, 14467 Potsdam
Registration? Free admission, no registration required
About the title of the concert
“Lichtzwang” is the title of a poetry collection by Paul Celan. The term describes a state in which a person cannot close their eyes to the truth. It is the painful necessity of seeing the world without illusions—a light that is at once a form of salvation and a burden, because it allows no hiding.
Celan, a survivor of the Holocaust, searched for a language to speak about what seems unspeakable. Lichtzwang thus signifies an ethical obligation: the duty to bear witness. One cannot choose the darkness of forgetting; compelled by the light of truth, one is forced to stand before history.
Russia’s war against Ukraine began in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale war of aggression in 2022. Ukrainian soldiers still defend their country today so that the people of Ukraine can continue to live freely in a democratic state. This concert is dedicated to them—as well as to all those who have supported Ukraine for years and shown solidarity with the country.
About the musicians
The concert will be presented by Ukrainian and international soloists who contribute to raising the profile of Ukrainian music and culture on an international level through their artistic work.
Mikheil Menabde
The concert will be conducted by Mikheil Menabde, who is renowned throughout Europe for his compelling interpretations. He is a Georgian conductor who works primarily in Ukraine and Europe. He began his professional career as a ballet dancer and choreographer in Tbilisi, Georgia, before turning to symphonic conducting. Menabde studied at the Ukrainian National Academy of Music and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He works with the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, is the founder and director of the Armonia Ludus chamber orchestra, and lives in Vienna.
Antonii Baryshevskyi
Pianist Antonii Baryshevskyi is one of the outstanding musicians of his generation. He has won numerous international competitions, including the Arthur Rubinstein and Ferruccio Busoni competitions. He completed his training at the Ukrainian National Academy of Music and the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He performs with leading European orchestras and is a visiting professor at the Davidsbündler Music Academy in The Hague, among other institutions.
Kateryna Suprun
Kateryna Suprun, awarded the honorary title of “Honored Artist of Ukraine,” is one of Ukraine’s most renowned violists. As a soloist with the National Soloist “Kyiv Camerata”, she is particularly dedicated to Ukrainian music of the 20th and 21st centuries. She has premiered numerous works dedicated to her and has performed with renowned orchestras in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Maxim Shalygin
The concert program includes two compositions by Ukrainian composer Maxim Shalygin. He completed his master’s degree at the Ukrainian National Academy of Music in Kyiv and at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Shalygin has composed over 50 works in various genres, which are performed internationally. His music is characterized by the expansion of traditional playing techniques, a clear tonal language, and a conscious avoidance of avant-garde radicalism.
The concert is organized by the Ukrainian Institute in Germany in cooperation with the St. Nicholas’ Church Potsdam. The event is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.