150th birth anniversary of the famous Ukrainian singer Solomiya Krushelnytska: Lviv National Opera has announced a list of forthcoming events
Solomiya Krushelnytska is a Ukrainian opera singer and a national legend. Her extraordinary voice and excellent acting won the hearts of millions – from Lviv to Warsaw, Odesa to Paris, Milan, Naples to Cairo, Barcelona, Lisbon and Buenos Aires.
On September 23, we and the whole world celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the famous opera diva; this date is included in the list of commemorations and anniversaries observed by UNESCO.
You can download the celebration files here: https://bit.ly/3xponOi
Lviv National Opera, which was named after Solomiya Krushelnytska in 2000, prepares a series of musical events dedicated to the anniversary of the patroness. They include a grand concert conducted by a famous Italian maestro, opera, drama and ballet dedicated to the singer, a lecture-concert, an exhibition, a book presentation and even a concert of young musicians.
All events dedicated to Solomiya Krushelnytskyi take place at Lviv National Opera from September 23 to October 2 and are supported by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. Event partners are UNESCO, the State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education, the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Kyiv, the Institute of Italian Culture in Kyiv, Giacomo Puccini International Festival, Solomiya Krushelnytska Memorial Music Museum in Lviv, Lviv State Music Lyceum named after Solomiya Krushelnytska. Information partners are Radio Kultura and FM Halychyna.
Lviv National Opera presents the Grand Concert “Solomiya. Brava!” on the day of the 150th birth anniversary of Solomia Krushelnytska. Guest singers from all opera theatres of Ukraine, soloists, choir and orchestra of Lviv National Opera will perform in the concert under the baton of invited star conductor from Italy, Alberto Veronesi. The maestro has collaborated with opera theatres and symphony orchestras in Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium, the USA, etc., and will perform on the new of Lviv Opera for the first time.
During the celebration of the anniversary of Solomiya Krushelnytska, you can learn more about her life. The exhibition “The Story of the Triumph” on the first balcony of the theatre features the main news of her career. The exhibition will be opened on the day of the singer’s anniversary. Also, you can visit the lecture-concert “Renowned and Unknown Krushelnytska”. To honour the singer, Lviv Opera presents famous works of world art – the opera “Madama Butterfly” by G. Puccini, the ballet “The Return of Butterfly” by G. Puccini and M. Skoryk, the drama “Salome” by N. Davydovska on the main and chamber news of the theatre. Solomiya will also appear on the pages of Oleksandr Balabak’s new book “Kimono for Butterfly”, which will be presented in the Mirror Hall of the theatre.
Two concerts will close the anniversary celebrations: Italian virtuoso guitarist Simone Onnis will perform famous opera arias in instrumental translation; the youngest musicians from Lviv Music Lyceum named after Solomiya Krushelnytska will also impress the audience with their performance dedicated to the patroness.
Events dedicated to the 150th birth anniversary of Solomiya Krushelnytska at Lviv National Opera:
September 23, Friday
17:00, Hallway of the first balcony
THE STORY OF THE TRIUMPH
Opening of the exhibition. Design – Serhii Petliuk. Curator – Mykhailo Kobryn
Ticketed entry
18:00, Auditorium (Online broadcast)
SOLOMIYA. BRAVA!
Grand concert of world opera music from the repertoire of Solomiya Krushelnytska
Performed by guest singers and soloists, chorus and orchestra of Lviv National Opera. Conductor – Alberto Veronesi (Italy)
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3qATpyG
September 24, Saturday
14:00, Mirror Hall
RENOWNED AND UNKNOWN KRUSHELNYTSKA
Lecture-concert. In cooperation with Solomiya Krushelnytska Memorial Music Museum in Lviv
Admission by invitation (can be obtained free of charge at the theatre box office)
16:00, Mirror Hall
OLEKSANDR BALABKO “KIMONO FOR BUTTERFLY”
Book presentation
Admission by invitation (can be obtained free of charge at the theatre box office)
18:00, Auditorium
THE RETURN OF BUTTERFLY
- Puccini – M. Skoryk. Ballet in 2 acts
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3RYNIpX
September 25, Sunday
15:00, Mirror Hall
SALOME
Mystical drama based on the poetic script of Nataliia Davydovska and dedicated to Solomiya Krushelnytska
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3qxsFza
18:00, Auditorium
MADAMA BUTTERFLY
- Puccini. Opera in 3 acts. Guest tenor – Oleh Zlakoman (Odesa)
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3BBfq6J
September 29, Thursday
18:00, Mirror Hall
ITALIAN EVENING
Concert of the chamber music. Simone Onnis – guitar (Italy)
Supported by the Institute of Italian Culture
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3QDmWCv
October 2, Sunday
15:00, Mirror Hall
CHILDREN TO SOLOMIYA
Concert of the students of Lviv State Music Lyceum named after Solomiya Krushelnytska
Tickets will be on sale soon
Information about Solomiya Krushelnytska
“Solomiya Krushelnytska was the only woman who reigned on an opera new in the first decades of the 20th century along with four male singers – Battistini, Caruso, Tita Ruffo and Chaliapin.”
Italian music critic Rinatto Cortopassi
She sang more than 60 opera parts; the press wrote about her as “unforgettable Aida”, “the only Gioconda”, “unique Halka”, “ideal Brünnhilde”, “unsurpassed Salome”, and “exceptional Valkyrie”.
She immortalized her name, becoming “the most beautiful and charming Butterfly”, as Giacomo Puccini called her with tenderness and gratitude. After the new opera “Madama Butterfly” written by Puccini, who was the favourite composer of the audience, was booed, Krushelnytska agreed to sing in its new edition. Her voice and acting made the opera one of the best operas in the world.
She confidently drove a car and refused to marry for the sake of a career, challenging the world’s gender canons.
She proved that being Ukrainian is cool, proudly emphasizing her nationality every time and everywhere.
