Lyra, the acclaimed Russian vocal musical ensemble from St. Petersburg, Russia, returns to Murphy at 7 p.m. on May 12 for an evening performance at the First United Methodist Church, 73 Valley River Avenue.
Lyra is composed entirely of professional musicians who sing in different churches of St. Petersburg.
Some members also are soloists at musical theaters of the city.
Through their performances they introduce the enormous musical heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as traditions of Russian folk music to all people interested in Russia, its history and its culture.
The Murphy concert is Lyra’s 26th on a five-state 28-concert tour that began in Punta Gorda, Fla. on April 14 and ends May 14 in Norcross, Ga.
Lyra’s musicians include students or post-graduate students of the St. Petersburg Conservatory.
Among them are choir conductors, opera singers, instrumentalists and music teachers.
Lyra is composed of about two dozen members who prefer to tour and perform in small ensembles of four or five.
A group of two women and three men will be coming to Murphy.
They include Anna Makarenko, soprano who performs as guest soloist in various opera houses in Russia and Belarus; Olga Turkina, mezzo-soprano who is a soloist of St. Petersbury Conservatory Opera house; Denis Patsuik, tenor and choir conductor from Minsk; and Alexander Kudriashov, bass, post-graduate of St. Petersburg Conservatory and soloist at St. Petersbury Conservatory Opera house.
Last year Kudriashov was awarded first prize in the Russia national competition, “Voice of Russia.”
Rounding out the group is Sergey Tupitsyn, baritone and manager of Lyra choir community. He also is a post-graduate of St. Petersburg Conservatory, a choir conductor and is a member of a male choral quartet that has performed more than 1,000 concerts in various countries around the world.
The first portion of Lyra’s concerts includes sacred chants of the Russian Orthodox Church. The second part features a selection of Russian folk songs.
Lyra’s visit to Murphy is sponsored by Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Murphy, First United Methodist Church of Murphy, St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Andrews and St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.
The concert is free to the public. Lyra’s CDs and other items will be available for purchase after the concert.
Donations are always appreciated. This is Lyra’s fifth appearance in Murphy in the last 10 years.
“This is more than a performance by highly talented musicians,” said Father George Kloster, retired priest of St. William Catholic Church in Murphy.