Friends!

Today expire 204 years from the birth of Semen Gulak-Artemovs'kyj - famous composer, singer, author of one of the first Ukrainian operas "Zaporozhets beyond the Danube".

Semen was born in the family of the priest. Not surprisingly, parents wanted their son to follow his father - he was sent to study to Kyiv seminary. But fate decided Gulak-Artemovs'kyj case. Unique baritone of the boy then could be heard in the Monastery. And Mikhail Glinka did it, he was looking for artist for Ruslan role in the new opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila". The voice of young Gulak-Artemovs'kyj pleased Glinka, so he took him to St. Petersburg. First he taught him singing, then - collected funds to make Semen to go to study abroad. Three years Gulak-Artemovskij gathered knowledge in Paris and Florence, then went back to St. Petersburg.

Singer made his debut in the party of Lord Henry Aston in Donizetti's opera "Lucia di Lammermoor" at the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. Same year was the premiere of "Ruslan and Lyudmila" – Glinka’s work, which he had prepared for 5 years. Semen performed the leading role. For 22 years he has been the leading soloist of the St. Petersburg Imperial Opera. The audience went specifically "to Artemovs'kyj", he became a favorite of the public.

Mostly this talented man was known as the author of Ukrainian opera "Zaporozhets beyond the Danube". The royal censorship prohibited to put it on stage for 20 years. Later opera was "revived" by Marco Kropivnitskiy.

Also, Gulak-Artemovskij wrote many wonderful Ukrainian songs. They were: "sycamore stands above the water," "I do not want to sleep," "Oh, on the mountain, and the reapers reap."

Among the interesting facts - Semen Gulak-Artemovskij was a good friend of Taras Shevchenko. "Sycamore stands above the water" - a work that Semen dedicated to him. And he always supported poet at the times of exile, when the Taras was almost alone. He sent him money. Shevchenko, in return, painted portraits of Gulak-Artemovs'kyj and his wife.

Gulak-Artemovs'kyj played his last role in the "Hromoboy" Bolshoi Theatre.

Friends, I am sure that this priceless artistic legacy, which was left to us by Semen Gulak-Artemosvkyy will remain forever in our history. Listen, sing and tell others - so immortal works will live forever.