Jamala “Qirim”: World Premiere in Liverpool

Taking place on 11 May at Liverpool’s Pier Head (Eurovision Village), Ukrainian Eurovision Song Contest 2016 winner and singer songwriter Jamala performed a global premiere of QIRIM. This extraordinary and poignant new album of music is based around Crimean Tatar folk songs and was accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. From mysterious mountains and lifeless steppes to lively seaside villages, Jamala invites the audience on a journey across the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea, shining a spotlight on a culture and language most people know little about. QIRIM includes 14 ancient songs, each representing a particular town or village on the Ukrainian peninsula.

What does the earth sound like? How do the thoughts and feelings of people who lived hundreds of years ago sing? Those people who lived on their land and then lost it. And then came back and lost it again. People who are forced to become refugees in the…