The year 2000 became memorable for the Ukrainian opera art for several reasons. Firstly, we celebrate with the rest of the world the 400th anniversary of the opera as a musical genre. Secondly, one of the advanced theatres of Ukraine, Lviv State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet of I. Franko celebrates its 100th anniversary. And thirdly, for the first time in his history the Pope John-Paul II gave his consent for sponsorship of the secular project - staging of the opera "Moses" (on the motives of I. Franko's poem) by Lviv Opera Theatre. It is obvious that the implication of the Pope to the musical life of Ukraine absorbed attention to the Ukrainian opera stage not only of world musical circles but also that of international political summits. About all this in the interview with the director of Lviv Opera Theatre Tadey Alexandrovich Eder..

- Mr. Eder, assistance of the Pope in the staging of the opera is a very notorious event for the whole country and for Lviv Opera Theatre in particular. Tell us about the roots of this event. Where did the idea come from to turn for help to John-Paul II?

- The idea of staging Ukrainian modern opera wandered in our theatre not for the first year. I made several requests to Myroslav Skoryk to write it. He always agreed gladly but with one condition - it had to be government order. At first we counted on the year 2000. We turned for help at the Ministry of Culture and the Community of Composers. But we heard only refusals referred to the difficult economic situation in Ukraine. Since as a result of discussions at creative boards of the theatre we decided to stage the opera on religious themes (and the poem of Ivan Franko "Moses" is ideal for this) we turned for help to church. When I determined to share my idea of writing a letter to the Pope of Rome with the highest member of clergy Lyubomyr Guzar (bishop - mate to the head of Ukrainian greco-catholic church), he just shrugged his shoulders because it was new for the practice of Vatican. But nevertheless he advised me to try. Thus with assistance of the Ukrainian greco-catholic church we sent a request for blessing and financial support to the Pope John-Paul II. According to the words of church representatives, they lost their gift of speech when they had received a positive answer. Nobody expected that. Today it is already a historical case.

- As far as I know you receive financing through the UGCC. You don't have real money in your disposal.

- Correctly. At the creative board we note step-by-step all costs and give them to church representatives. All the last agreements are made on the international church level.

- In what phase is the work on the opera?

- Lviv composer Myroslav Skoryk must finish the work on the opera any day. He is in Australia right now. He turned off the telephone and said that he would turn it on only when the final dot was placed in the work. The libretto on which Lviv poet Bohdan Stelmah works is almost ready. The poet returns to it again and again in attempt to improve it. The producer of the opera Pole Zbignev Hshanovsky is waiting for a call to start his phase of work. Everybody understands that the blessing of Vatican is not just a luck but also a very big responsibility. Since every participant of the project will show himself to the whole world. By the way, it's a unique case that the composer, author of literary composition and libretto are all natives of Lviv. And it's very pleasantly.

- It is known that there is a lot of confession problems in Ukraine. What was the attitude of other religious confessions to the blessing of the catholic church?

- All the confessions revealed desire to support this action. We even didn't expect so much activity from them.
- In the repertoire plan of the theatre for the year 2000 the first night of the "Moses" is set for August.
- It's not the exact date. We can't plan right now because the creative work is in progress and it is not dependent on time. We don't want to hurry. We just know that we must perform the first night this year.
- How real will be the presence of the Pope at the first night of the "Moses"?
- We don't know this. Such decisions are taken on the international level. But there is the probability of his presence at the first night. As far as I am informed, the President of Ukraine and Prime-Minister have already sent their invitations to John-Paul II.
- This year besides the world first night of the "Moses" Lviv opera is also going to present a great deal of actions devoted to the celebration of its 100th anniversary. Many guests are expected. Tell about this.
- Indeed, from the very beginning of this year we are carrying out actions in the frames of this program. During the year we'll have a lot of guests: leading masters from five theatres of Ukraine, representatives of Big theatre of Moscow, of Mariinsk theatre of Saint-Petersburg, guests from Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, Rome, Bucharest and from other theatres of the world. In June we are waiting for the arrival of the soloist of "Metropolitan Opera" P. Plishka.
- In the frames of the program you are planning several first nights of opera and ballet performances. What exactly will it be?
- In February we performed the opera of D. Verdi "Aida" with the assistance of conductor from Japan Chose Kamazyu. 25 March at the stage of our theatre took place the first night of the opera of D. Verdi "Nabukko" with the producer D. Veshilia (Rumania). Also we are planning the half-premiere of the opera of D. Verdi "Traviata". We had performed it two years ago but without stage costumes. Right now we have a sponsor so there is sense to stage the performance in full. For work we decided to invite conductor and producer from Italy. Probably they will see "Traviata" from another point of view and it will be a real first night. Concerning ballet performances we decided to renew the ballet "Creation of the world" on the occasion of the anniversary. We saved fantastic sceneries of popular artist Evgeniy Lisik whose 70th anniversary we celebrated this year. Now the performance is under major renewal. I think at the end of the year we will be able to offer it to the judgement of spectators and critics in the new appearance.

- What about the financing of the program "The celebration of the 100th anniversary of Lviv theatre of opera and ballet"? Do you receive help from government structures?
- We decided even not to apply to the government structures. I don't like to ask if I know that except nervous breakdowns I won't get anything. Especially some government representatives (starting with local and up to the ministerial level) reproach me of boosting the event. At the very beginning we took decision to look for sponsors.
- As I know, the Committee of aid to the theatre in celebration of its centenary was created in Lviv.
- Yes, but right now it exists only formally.
- They say that Lviv opera theatre negotiates with the agency of grand tenor of opera scene Luzianno Pavarotti. Is it appropriate to consider this visit to be also a part of the celebration of the anniversary?
- No, this visit is not connected with the anniversary of the theatre. Today the realization of this project is under the biggest question-mark. Invitation of Pavarotti on the governmental level is very expensive pleasure for Ukraine. There is another possibility we are dreaming to take advantage of. Two times a year Pavarotti gives beneficent concerts. The task is to persuade him to conduct one of these concerts in Ukraine at Lviv opera theatre. It is hard to say right now whether this attempt will be successful. But there is always some hope.

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