Moses
Libretto by Bohdan Stelmakh and Myroslav Skoryk based on the poem of the same name by Ivan Franko
Lviv Opera commissioned the opera Moses to the Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the theatre. A two-act opera with a prologue and an epilogue or a stage parable, as it is sometimes called, has synthesized the leading ideas of Franko’s work i.e. the interpretation of the biblical plot and the allegory of self-awareness of the Ukrainian nation.
Sung in Ukrainian
Directors
Сhief conductor
Stage director
Choreographer
Costume designer
Chorus master
Officials and performers
Moses
Yurii Trytsetskyi
заслужений артист УкраїниAviron
Олександр Зозуля
Yurii Shevchuk
winner of the international competitionDatan
Andrii Beniuk
winner of the international competitionAzazel
Roman Trochymuk
Honored artist of UkraineLia
Lyubov Kachala
People’s Artist of UkraineLuydmyla Korsun
Honored Artist of UkraineJehoshua
Oleh Lykhach
народний артист УкраїниVitaliy Voytko
Johaveda
Nataliya Datsko
People’s Artist of UkrainePoet
Orest Sydir
People’s Artist of UkraineSimeon, herdsman
Andrii Beniuk
winner of the international competitionYurii Shevchuk
winner of the international competitionJehovah voice
Volodymyr Dutchak
Vaal priestesses
Victoria Zvarych
Inna Kluchnyk
Nataliya Pelo
Private: Yuliya Mykhalikha
Children
Event Libretto
Prologue
Poet speaks to the people, which moan in the yoke of slavery “as a paralytic on the cross-road”. Poet asks difficult question:
“Was it in vain that so many hearts burnt with sacred love offering you their body and soul? And then answers affirmatively: “Oh no! Your destiny is no tears and sighs alone! I believe in the strength of your spirit and in the resurrection day of your rising”.
Act 1
Scene 1
Desert in Sinai. Morning. Jehoshua wakes up his beloved Lia with tender words. Nearby small children are building sand houses. This game amazes the young couple, because children have seen nothing but desert. They play in the “city”. The word “city” “got in the blood and soul of the kids” as a dream. Aviron and Datan approach with their supporters. They reproach Moses and his followers for the sore trials and the endless road. “Where is the splendid Promised Land Moses has been speaking about for 40 years? Prophets lied! In the desert we shall live and die! How long?” Moses’s followers are dreaming about happy life in the Promised Land: “There are deep leafy forests and green grass. Prosperity and fame are waiting there for us!” An ardent word duel between opponents nearly turns into a fight.
Scene 2
Moses comes out of a tent. He answers that leading people to Palestine, he executes Jehovah’s will. Moses tells the fairy tale about trees which were electing their king. The proud Lebanese cedar and a splendid palm-tree and a tender birch refused. Only a blackthorn took this heavy duty. “I shall gain a field for you, though I need none, and I shall trail down for you to reach the sky!” Moses compares the blackthorn’s actions with modesty of people chosen by God “to be a light in the darkness”. Aviron objects such interpretation. He mocks at Moses and threatens him. Moses is in despair. He leaves and his opponents begin the ceremony of worshiping of the Golden Calf and then departure to the East.
Act 2
Scene 1
Desert. Moses is deep in his thoughts. He appeals to God, so that God listens to his prayers and gives answer to his doubts which torment his soul. “Forty years I toiled and taught trying to make nation out of slaves! But I got only mockery and stones…” Azazel, an evil spirit, appears. He increases Moses’s spiritual confusion. “What if the voice which inspired you for that unhappy quest was not one of God but that of your own?” Moses objects strongly. He ascends the mountains and prays raising his hands. People see him in conversation with God and are afraid of God’s punishment for violation of His Commandments.
Scene 2
The ghost of his mother approaches to Moses. She pities her son and advises not to trust Jehovah. Moses cannot listen to this… “No love in your words I see, only despair. Hold off, the demon of darkness!” But Johaveda continues her advance – now together with Azazel. This terrific duet brings Moses to despair. “Alas to my misfortune, shall my people ever be free from slavery? Jehovah cheated us!”
Scene 3
Jehovah’s voice addressing Moses is heard over the desert. “Your doubt shall be punished, your eyes will see Promised Land, but your feet will never step in, your bones will rot here”. Terrible storm smashes Moses off. People are mourning him: “That was giving sense to very life and brought light and warmth has vanished”. Crowd led by Jehoshua and Lia enters. Aviron and Datan are condemned to death. The rest are convinced that they will reach the goal Moses led them to and will reach the Promised Land.
Epilogue
Poet is convinced of the happy future of his people: “The time will come and you will shine among the free people, around the world from Caucasus to Beskids, through sees and oceans you’ll send a voice of freedom and will live free in own house and work on own land”.
Short Description
The administration of Lviv Opera asked composer Myroslav Skoryk to write an opera on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the theatre. And a great opera Moses based on the libretto by Bohdan Stelmakh and the poem of the same name by Ivan Franko has been created by the Maestro. Myroslav Skoryk once again applied the poetry of Ivan Franko and emphasised his reason for this. He explained that was the dream of the composer’s father, for whom Franko’s poetry was a very important national impulse and not only European but global spiritual phenomenon [Kyianovska L. Myroslav Skoryk: man and artist. Lviv: “Yi”. P. 68].
The opera Moses was premiered on June 23, 2001, and was conducted by the composer. First performances of the opera were presented during the visit of Pope John Paul II to Lviv, and the Holy Father blessed the creators of the opera. This is the only performance in the history of independent Ukraine which was financed by the Vatican and received a papal blessing.
The two-act opera with prologue and epilogue, or a theatrical parable as it has been called by the researchers, synthesized both the leading ideas of Franko’s work i.e. the interpretation of the biblical plot and allegory of self-awareness of the Ukrainian nation, and the original musical solution – the traditions of national music and modern style.
Like the literary source, the opera Moses is not only about the universal symbol of the prophet, who by God’s providence had to turn slaves into the people, but also about the striving of our people for getting out of slavery, snatching it out of the heart, about the history of Ukraine and its future.
The creative team of the iconic modern Ukrainian opera were choirmaster Bohdan Heriavenko, set designers Mykhailo and Tadei Ryndzak, costume designer Oksana Zinchenko, choreographer Serhii Naienko, and director Zbigniew Chrzanowski. The opera was conducted by the composer or by Mykhailo Dutchak, who was then the chief conductor of the theatre. The concept of the opera is based on the leading role of Moses, which was played by bass Oleksandr Hromysh during the premiere.
