For the finale concert of the 2022 Canberra International Music Festival (CIMF), in a program that was presented by the European Union Delegation to Australia, the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin and Camille Saint-Saëns made a resounding conclusion to this festival that reached from pole to pole.

The artists in the finale were Sally Walker (flute), Jason Noble (clarinet), Naoto Segawa (percussion), Ben Ward (double bass) and Stephanie Neeman (piano), along with the Australian Haydn Ensemble, the New Zealand String Quartet, and actor Jonathan Biggins.

After the introduction and the formal welcome of many ambassadors from across the world, as a tribute to the Ukrainian people, Larissa Kovalchuk performed a Bach prelude and a traditional Ukrainian song on the bandura, a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument. It was deeply felt and warmly appreciated.

Larissa Kovalchuk performs on a bandura, a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument, during <i>The Last Mile</i>, the final concert of the 2022 Canberra International Music Festival. Photo © Peter Hislop. Larissa Kovalchuk performs on a bandura, a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument, during The Last Mile, the final concert of the 2022 Canberra International Music Festival. Photo...