Wassyl Slipak "File:Wassyl Slipak 24 août 2014.jpg" by Syrdon is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ukraine is strong because of its people. We must base our future on people.
Wassyl Slipak
Wassyl Slipak was a Ukrainian opera singer, soloist of the Paris National Opera, public figure, Russian-Ukrainian war participant, and Hero of Ukraine.
The singer was born on December 20, 1974 in Lviv. Since childhood, like his grandfather, he loved to sing. At first, he developed his performing skills in the Lviv Dudaryk Choir (1983-1994), which toured many European countries, the United States, and Canada. Later, he studied at the Mykola Lysenko Lviv National Music Academy (1992-1996). Wassyl Slipak had a vast and rare voice range — he could sing countertenor and bass. He was a polyglot, speaking about ten languages.
In 1997, the Parisian period began in the life and work of Wassyl Slipak. The talented young man was invited to perform at the Paris National Opera. The next nineteen years of the singer’s career were very productive. He collaborated with the best teachers, won international competitions, toured, and popularized Ukrainian culture.
France was honored to offer the world-famous singer its citizenship, but Slipak was proud to be a citizen of Ukraine.
Wassyl Slipak confirmed his love for Ukraine with his actions. When the Revolution of Dignity began in 2013, Slipak and representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in Paris organized various events, rallies, and charity concerts supporting Ukraine’s European choice. And with the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2014, he deliberately changed the opera stage to a theater of war. During 2015-2016 (with interruptions), he participated in military operations in the Donetsk region as a member of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps. The singer chose the call sign “Myth” to honor Mephistopheles, the hero of his favorite opera by French composer Charles Gounod.
Wassyl Slipak was killed in action, defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine, on June 29, 2016, in Luhanske, Donetsk region. He was buried in Lviv at Lychakiv Cemetery. Wassyl Slipak was posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage,” first class (2016), and was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine (2017).
