On March 14, a grand opera concert took place at the National Palace of Arts of Ukraine, featuring the world-renowned Ukrainian soprano Lyudmila Monastyrska, accompanied by the symphony orchestra and choir of the T. G. Shevchenko National Opera of Ukraine under the baton of conductor Mykola Dyadyura.
According to reporters from the “Culture” section of the “Interfax-Ukraine” agency reporting from the scene, the palace hall was completely full that evening. The concert drew a large audience of classical music enthusiasts, members of the diplomatic corps, the cultural community, journalists, and distinguished guests.
Among those present were Ukrainian Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization Anastasia Bondar, People’s Deputy from the “Servant of the People” faction Yulia Hryshyna, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, international organizations, the media, and public figures.
“Culture is one of the languages through which Ukraine speaks to the world. We invited heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of international organizations accredited in Ukraine to the concert at the National Palace of Arts ‘Ukraine,’” wrote Ukrainian Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna on her Facebook page.
According to her, on the eve of her performances at the world’s leading opera stages—the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires—the prima donna presented an evening of world opera classics in Kyiv. Such events, Berezhna emphasized, are of particular importance for cultural diplomacy, as it is through music, art, and shared cultural experiences that Ukraine communicates its history, values, and strength to the world.
The minister also emphasized that the Ukrainian opera school has a rich tradition that has developed over the centuries—from composer Semen Hulak-Artemovsky and the legendary Solomiya Krushelnytska to the outstanding voices of the 20th century. Today, this tradition is carried on by contemporary Ukrainian artists who successfully represent Ukrainian culture on the world’s most prestigious stages.
Yulia Hryshyna, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, who was also among the evening’s guests, shared her impressions of the concert.
“When music plays, the soul sings. And it is in moments like these that inspiration to move forward emerges,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
According to Hryshyna, the concert was a truly special evening that combined majestic music, flawless vocals, and the magic of the live sound of the National Opera of Ukraine’s symphony orchestra.
Opera singers David Axelrod, Vitaliy Bilyi, and Vlad Sitnik performed alongside Lyudmila Monastyrska. The evening concluded with a performance of Igor Shamo’s iconic song for the capital, “How Can I Not Love You, My Kyiv!”, which the artists performed together with the choir of the National Opera of Ukraine. The audience greeted the final composition with a standing ovation.
Serhiy Perman served as the project’s creator and artistic director, Dmytro Saratsky as music producer, Anastasia Buzhanska as production director, Anton Kyrychuk as technical director, and Oleg Yakovlev as executive producer. Sound for the concert was provided by “Terminal,” and lighting by “Feeria.” The organizers also expressed their gratitude to Petro Chupryna, General Director of the National Opera of Ukraine, for his support of the project.
Lyudmila Monastyrska is one of the most famous Ukrainian opera singers in the world. Her voice can be heard on the world’s leading opera stages, as well as in European opera houses. The artist’s performances have become an important part of Ukraine’s cultural presence in the world, as through music she represents Ukrainian art to an international audience.
