Sting performs “Shape of My Heart” with Ukrainian soldier and bandura player in Los Angeles

British singer Sting performed his iconic hit "Shape of My Heart" in Los Angeles alongside Ukrainian military bandura player Taras Stolyar, creating a powerful moment of cultural collaboration.

The non-governmental organization "Ukrainian Cultural Landing" shared the news on Facebook, accompanied by a video, as reported by Rubryka.

"Ukrainian cultural diplomacy is when a global star performs a world-renowned hit to the accompaniment of a Ukrainian bandura. This remarkable collaboration happened in Los Angeles during the American tour of 'Cultural Landing,'" the organization stated.

The event took place at the home of actor Sean Penn, where Ukrainian military representatives met with world-renowned music stars, including:

• The Killers,
• Queens of the Stone Age,
• and the legendary Sting.

During this gathering, Stolyar played the beloved melody "Shape of My Heart" with Sting, blending the sounds of the bandura with the singer's timeless voice.

"Did Sting like this version? The answer is clear—Taras Stolyar was invited to accompany Sting at his solo concert the very next day," shared "Cultural Landing," highlighting the resonance of this unique collaboration.

The NGO team explained that they initially planned to release the video at a later time, but circumstances changed:

"Since it has already been published without our permission and is circulating on social networks, we are now revealing all the details to you," they stated.

Let us recall that earlier, the legendary band Metallica shared a video on their official Instagram of a unique bandura cover of their iconic ballad "Nothing Else Matters." This rendition was performed by Taras Stolyar, an Honored Artist of Ukraine and a soldier in the 112th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"The combination of bandura and Metallica is exactly what is needed! Your powerful ballad 'Nothing Else Matters' is well known and very close to every Ukrainian. During the Cultural Landing tour in the United States and even on the front line in Ukraine, your music performed on the bandura resonated deeply at every concert," Stolyar shared, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Metallica for supporting Ukraine.

Stolyar is part of a unique unit within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, consisting of seven professional musicians. This group not only carries out combat missions but also organizes concerts to raise global awareness about the war in Ukraine. During their U.S. tour, performances featuring the bandura inspired both Ukrainian and international audiences.

In another display of cultural resilience, in the UK at Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire), Ukrainian composer and musician Roman Grygoriv, accompanied by the National Ensemble of Soloists "Kyiv Camerata," performed using an instrument crafted from the remnants of a Russian-launched MLRS "Hurricane" rocket that struck Ukraine in 2022.

Additionally, the first carol from the album "Territory of Christmas. Spirit of the Unconquered" was recently released, created collaboratively by artists and military personnel, celebrating the unyielding spirit of Ukraine.