Ukraine Kalush Orchestra Stefania Eurovision 2022 first rehearsal.jpg
EBU / Andres Putting

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra have arrived in Italy for their Eurovision 2022 first rehearsals. They performed “Stefania” on stage at Turin’s PalaOlimpico for the first time ahead of their semi-final in May. How have things changed since Vidbir? Scroll down to find out…

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra “Stefania” — Eurovision 2022 first rehearsal

@eurovision Exclusive BTS access with @KALUSH for Ukraine’s first rehearsal! 🇺🇦 #Eurovision2022 #EurovisionTikTok #Eurovision ♬ original sound – Eurovision

Pink bucket hat, traditional folk garb, ghillie suit seemingly inspired by the German flag… the Kalush Orchestra boys packed their essentials. The Ukrainian presentation is a feast for the eyes and the ears. Much of the presentation remains the same as what we saw in Vidbir with traditional patters and nods to folklore, though the box and steps have disappeared. And just in case you didn’t know this was Ukraine, parts of their lighting matches the gold and blue of their flag. Ukraine is here and the world is watching.

Our wiwibloggers said…

Suzanne: Ukraine has done it again. Kalush Orchestra and that staging, OMG. I have no doubt that Ukraine being in my top five now, they are only going up. 

William: I think Ukraine has elevated their stage show. I like the lighting, the blue and yellow is so beautiful. I also love the long ropes that are more colourful on that one outfit. He no longer fades into the background, but really pops out.   

Reaction to Ukraine’s first rehearsal at Eurovision 2022 

@wiwibloggs_official Here’s our reaction to @KALUSH Orchestra’s first #Eurovision rehearsal for #Ukriane 🇺🇦 #ESC2022 #Stefania ♬ Stefania (Kalush Orchestra) – KALUSH

What do you think? Did Kalush Orchestra live up to your expectations? Let us know in the comments below. 

30 Comments
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Jo.
Jo.
1 year ago

So instead of celebrating that Kalush managed to make it to Torino, the fandom has now decided to attack them because they’ve become a threat to their divas. The level of toxicity here is higher than Chernobyl and Fukushima combined…

Nikki
Nikki
1 year ago
Reply to  Jo.

Not sure what people expect, there is war in Ukraine. Lookup their instagram, they really don’t look like have the best conditions to rehearse. I think they are amazing, considering what they are going through.

Vsl
Vsl
1 year ago

hi to all… as a Ukrainian, I don’t much care about the final place of Kalush Orchestra… I hope that the Kalush Orchestra guys qualify to GF, and this would be enough to demonstrate that Ukraine is still alive… as for me, the truly important things are now in the battlefields…

Mariia
Mariia
1 year ago
Reply to  Vsl

as a Ukrainian I confirm this

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
1 year ago

Myb it is not appropriate thing to say right now, but Ukrainian men are so sexy 🙂

Nikki
Nikki
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

And the fact that they are heroes also make them be even more sexy!

Im so fab
Im so fab
1 year ago

Too much confidence. They think they can win just because of sympathy votes. And they made a cheap uninspired live performance.

I hope juries will be more rational than the public and help another (deserved) entry to win.

Eva
Eva
1 year ago
Reply to  Im so fab

You probablylive in a very rich country, where young artists in wartime can afford designer costumes and intricate scenery?

Anna
Anna
1 year ago
Reply to  Im so fab

The thing is “they” (kalush), don’t think so (Oleh once said in the video that they don’t want to win because of pity, they want to win fairly). These are all the people who write such comments as yours, who think so. And only because it’s Ukraine lol. It’s not their fault they were born Ukrainians and are so unlucky to participate in the year of war. P.s. their song and perfomance is not bad at all, they were 3rd by the bookmakers before the war started. Putting them down because of the country they’re representing is such an uncool… Read more »

Rim
Rim
1 year ago
Reply to  Anna

If Oleh wants this competition to be fair and apolitical, he should give a public statement saying that he wants everyone to vote for the song he or she thinks is the best – and to donate to help Ukraine’s cause.

Ellie
Ellie
1 year ago
Reply to  Im so fab

Do you not get tired of regurgitating the same senseless comments? Enough already. Some of us like this song and believe they deserve to do well. I really don’t know what you get out of this constant desire to undermine a talented group interested in competing like all the others.

jjyt76
jjyt76
1 year ago
Reply to  Im so fab

No. They are not about winning. It is enough to be there and, hopefully, qualify. You must be a nasty pig RuZZian

Geert
Geert
1 year ago
Reply to  Im so fab

Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine are the three top contestors this year. The other countries are irrelevant and just more of the same we have heard for 20 years…

Nikki
Nikki
1 year ago
Reply to  Im so fab

What do you mean cheap? There is war in Ukraine, what do you expect? Some thousands of millions spent on a stage? I think it is obvious the money have better places to go in Ukraine than stage nowadays. Let’s be happy that they managed to get nice outfits and actually manage to participate.

Jo.
Jo.
1 year ago

It seems like they will deliver what they have promised, these overly negative commentators really need to chill

Jamie
Jamie
1 year ago

Very messy and badly staged. As much as I support Ukraine outside Eurovision, from the song perspective I find this really weak. Glory to Ukraine, no glory to Stefania, sadly. Really wishing for Alina Pash right now.

AlexC
AlexC
1 year ago

Ukraine for the win, followed by Spain. Hosting is not important.

Guest2022
Guest2022
1 year ago

Winners without doubt

Jamie
Jamie
1 year ago

Lets be honest! The EBU will give Ukraine a poor singing position in the final..I’m sure it would be a huge headache for them if Ukraine were to win. I hope Ukraine win.

Liam Lindsay
Liam Lindsay
1 year ago
Reply to  Jamie

I wouldn’t be surprised if they were sorted into the first 5 slots on the final if they pulled first half, the win if Ukraine pulls it off will be immensely political, not to mention how to host it the following year if they do.

Paul
Paul
1 year ago
Reply to  Liam Lindsay

Imagine if they perform second and still win – the curse will be broken!

Liam Lindsay
Liam Lindsay
1 year ago
Reply to  Paul

I doubt it.

Ksenija
Ksenija
1 year ago
Reply to  Jamie

I surely hope not

Tomi
Tomi
1 year ago
Reply to  Jamie

Right now & even before the semifinals, I’m already expecting Kalush to open the Grand Final. That would allow them to have some visibility & attention, it’s a good spot for them to get a good result too, but not to win.

Tomi
Tomi
1 year ago
Reply to  Jamie

:-DDD

Liam Lindsay
Liam Lindsay
1 year ago

It looks messy, they have added to much of everything. It’s a classic example of too many cooks spoil the broth to turn a phrase, this hasn’t done anything special, Juries won’t respond to this. In my opinion this has detracted from the songs power, which is unfortunate given the songs messaging and the bands reasoning for being in Turin.

Anoni
Anoni
1 year ago
Reply to  Liam Lindsay

Using those outfits is exactly in line with their reasoning for being in Turin. Also the staging always had many people on it with some dancing around so…I don’t see what much changed to suddenly be getting reactions like this.

Liam Lindsay
Liam Lindsay
1 year ago
Reply to  Anoni

Firstly, I will never outright disrespect anyone’s traditional garb or attire, Secondly I think you misunderstood what I was saying. It was the cohesion of all the elements together which made this look messy. For example; Francesco Gabbani Italy 2017, long time favourite to win but with the staging it just didn’t work because he did too much, the same applies with Kalush. I hope that clears things up.

Anoni
Anoni
1 year ago
Reply to  Liam Lindsay

Oh, no, I didn’t think you were trying to disrespect them at all. I just think they were kind of going exactly for that messy look, because they wanted to put in as many elements from their culture as possible and since it was kind of like that from the start, I was just wondering why are people now pointing it out (and as a bad thing). I also kind of don’t agree that the lack of cohesion makes it look messy, I feel like thats the song’s charm and complements it. But of course that’s just my opinion. I’m… Read more »

Eva
Eva
1 year ago
Reply to  Liam Lindsay

Ukrainian culture is always eclectic.All Ukrainian art is complex