Lihtar is an independent orchestra and choir based in London, UK. It was created by Max Levytskyi and Alisa Zaika – two conductors from Ukraine. This collective comprises a flexible set of instrumentalists and vocalists that varies from project to project. The performers are students from all music conservatoires of London as well as some professionals.

Lihtar has debuted in April 2023 and has already had successful performances in a few of the London’s concert venues: St James Church Sussex Gardens, the Marylebone Theatre, the Susie Sainsbury Theatre (Royal Academy of Music) and the Holy Trinity Church Sloane Square. Many of Lihtar’s concerts have been raising funds in support of Ukrainian aid in the circumstances of the full-scale Russian invasion – profits from ticket sales were donated to different charities and volunteer groups, including a UK-registered charity Ukrainian Action.

The collective performs a wide and diverse range of repertoire while also sharing unknown music from Ukraine, particularly works by the modern and 20th century composers that never had a chance for worldwide recognition due to the Iron Curtain and repressions by the Soviet government. Overall, the concert programs include pieces from the Baroque to contemporary, accommodating all tastes in classical music.

One of our main values is delivering the concerts in the most audience-friendly way, regardless of the viewers’ level of musicianship and knowledge of repertoire. To help our audience feel tuned in, we provide short but informative talks, filled with interesting facts and context of the program.

Lihtar (pronounced leekh-taar) means “lantern” in Ukrainian. You are very welcome to join us in the next concert and experience the magic!