War. Until recently, this word was associated for me with a history textbook and movies. Now it’s a part of life. Russian full-scale invasion in Ukraine on the night of 24.02.2022 interrupted our peaceful sleep and divided our lives into “before” and “after”. Cook, athlete, actor, builder, farmer, engineer, musician – we are all now trying to find our place in war time. Our music is sirens, the noise of military equipment, sound of falling bombs and explosion, weaping of children and their mothers. I forgot that I am a singer. First
of all, I am a human and my task, like all of us, is to survive and protect our country with the weapon in our hands. But what is my weapon? I will tell you my personal story. A kind of “butterfly effect”.
On a November evening, visiting my friend at his house near Kyiv, I commented on a post on instagram of the main producer of the TV show. The Voice in which he announced a casting for this show. In the end, in three months, January 31, 2022 came out the episod with my participation in the show, where I sang the aria “Vedro con mio diletto” by Antonio Vivaldi. And 24 days later the war began. On the
tenth day of the war, I received a call to come to the military office as part of wartime mobilization. Was it scary? Very. Because I don’t know if I can kill a person. But in the office I was recognized as a singer and a participant in this show and they told me that I had my own front and released me. So now I know what my weapon is. It is music. Music that gives hope and faith in my fearless and brave people. Music that heals wounded souls and lifts the fighting spirit. No, music will not bring back those who were killed and continue to die in this terrible war, but through it we convey our weeping and pain that has engulfed
millions of people.
I believe in us, I know that we will win, because with us is the truth and support of the whole world, which
we are now protecting from this evil. Love each other and appreciate the peaceful sky above your head until it is taken away from you.
P.S. A week ago, my friend said that this house, where I visited him, was completely destroyed by a
Russian missile.
Roman Melish (*1988), Countertenor, studierte an der Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. Er ist Solist des nationalen Orgel- und Kammermusiksaals Ukraine in Kyiv und Mitglied in Formationen wie Profeti
della Quinta, Gilles Binchois und Ansambl Responsorium.