POLIN Museum invited Kupalaucy – artists and employees of the Janka Kupała National Theatre, who had quit their jobs as a gesture of solidarity with their director - Pavel Latushko, fired after expressing his support for the protesters.

The Kupalaucy recorded "Kupalinka" - a song that is often sung by protesters on the streets of Belarus. DJ Lenar together with the Lutosławski Quartet prepared a special, audiovisual arrangement of this piece.

The concert was organized thanks to the kind support of the City of Warsaw.

"Kupalinka" is often considered as a Belarusian folk song. In fact, the piece was written by composer Uladzimir Terauski, as a part of his music for "On Kupała Night" – a play written by Michaś Charot. The play was premiered in 1921 at the Belarusian State Theater – current Janka Kupała National Theatre. Critics at that time hailed "On Kupala Night" as the first Belarusian national opera, and the performance was staged over 400 times over the several seasons. During the the great terror, the play was banned. In the fall of 1937, the composer was sentenced to death on charges of espionage for Poland. The sentence was carried out shortly thereafter. In 1957, Terauski was acquitted of the charges. Michaś Charot was executed on the night of October 29-30, 1937, with over 100 figures of Belarusian culture, art and science.

Today, "Kupalinka" is often sung during peaceful protests in Belarus. It is performed by demonstrators, including collectives of Belarusian theaters, philharmonics and other cultural institutions.

The Kupała Theater once again became a place where politicians want to leave their mark. In the year of the theater’s 100th anniversary, its director, Pavel Latuszka, former minister of culture and diplomat, was dismissed from work. The reason for Latushka's dismissal was the result of joining the protests against irregularities during the last presidential elections in Belarus. As a sign of solidarity with the director, more than 70 artists and employees of the theater resigned. As an independent collective, Kupalaucy are still involved in protests. They are also staging performances outside their theater headquarters.

The concert "Cease fire: Kupalinka for Belarus" was held at the POLIN Museum on the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2020.

Artists:

• Lutosławski Quartet 
  • Roksana Kwaśnikowska – I violin  
  • Marcin Markowicz – II violin  
  • Artur Rozmysłowicz – viola 
  • Maciej Młodawski – cello
• dj Lenar – tape
• Kupalaucy – choir
• Jana Shostak - artist, creator of "A minute of shout for Belarus"

The material uses the work "Belarus" by Artem Loskutov

Concert curator: Kajetan Prochyra

The performance of the Kupalaucy was recorded by an anonymous film crew from Minsk.

We would like to thank:

• The editorial office of Tut.by and Belarusian Radio Svaboda
• Editing: Ziemowit Jaworski
• Project coordination: Svmerki
• Production: EarWorks&SoundTravel

Video production

• Photos
  • Patryk Grochowalski
  • Aleksandra Pachnik
  • Mikołaj Pływacz
• Editing
  • Patryk Grochowalski

The concert was organized in partnership with the Center of Belarusian Solidarity

The concert "Cease fire: Kupalinka for Belarus" was organized thanks to the kind support of the City of Warsaw