Opera "Moses" Prepares For World
Premiere Performance During Visit of Pope John Paul II To Ukraine.
STORY ABOUT WORLD PREMIERE OF OPERA "MOSES" With Photographs Taken During a Dress Rehearsal in Lviv, Ukraine, at the Lviv State Academic Theater For Opera and Ballet in the name of S. Krushelnytska
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The Curtain Is About To Go Up On A Historic Moment The Lviv Theater for Opera and Ballet is in its final stages of preparation for the world premiere performance of the opera "Moses" on Saturday, June 23, 2001. Work on this project was started over two years ago. Composer Myroslav Skoryk has put his finishing touches on the composition and the libretto for Moses, written by Bohdan Stelmakh and Myroslav Skoryk, has been completed. The soloists and choir are excited and are eagerly awaiting the world Premier. The orchestra has completed it's rehearsals and is ready for the conductor, Mykhaylo Dutchak, to raise his baton. Director/producer Zbigniev Khshanovskuj has said, "Everything is ready, let the orchestra begin, let the curtain rise." Tadey Eder, director of the Lviv Theater, said during an interview, the theater has completed all of the stage work and the final dress rehearsal has been held. The Lviv Theater for Opera and Ballet is ready for the world premiere. The Lviv Theater celebrated its centennial in the fall of 2000. The Theater is a majestic, classical building decorated in a lavish style with an ornately detailed interior which rises to a stunning handpainted ceiling and an elaborate chandelier. The beautiful building, whose construction began in 1896, dominates the Lviv central square. It is truly a marvelous work of architecture in which to have the world premiere of "Moses". Eder said the premiere is set to coincide with the arrival of Pope John Paul II in Ukraine. The eyes of the world will be on Kiev and Lviv during the visit of the Pope and for the world premier of the opera "Moses". Thousands of people are preparing and eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Pope and the premiere of the opera. Pope John Paul II and the Vatican have supported the production of Moses financially and spiritually. This is the first opera written on a biblical subject in Ukraine since the revolution over 80 years ago. "Moses" will be performed in the Ukrainian language.
"Moses" is based on a poem by Ivan Franko, the renowned Ukrainian poet who received the inspiration to write the poem from a painting of Moses he saw in a church. The poet was very inspired by the figure of Moses. The poem was written early in the 20th century, around 1905, but its message is just as alive now as it was then and when Moses actually led his people out of Egypt. Franko chose the heroic figure and story of Moses to represent the conditions Ukraine found itself in over 100 years ago. The uses the final moments of Moses life in his poem when Moses is struggling to lead his people into the promised land with is so close but yet so far away. Franko chose the heroic figure and story of Moses to represent the conditions Ukraine found itself in over 100 years ago. The uses the final moments of Moses life in his poem when Moses is struggling to lead his people into the promised land with is so close but yet so far away. Act I rolls out the story of Moses, his struggle for leadership, and his passion to lead his people to God. Two young lovers, Lea and Joshua are for Moses. Aviron and Datan are against Moses. The people have been wondering in the desert far too long and are tired. The people take sides, for and against Moses. In scene two of the first act Moses tells the people about God. Aviron tells the people not to listen to Moses. Datan and Aviron call on the people to stone Moses. They chase Moses away, Moses is banished from the camp. The people decide not to worship God and are found dancing around and worshipping the Golden Calf, Vaala, at the end of Act I. Act II, scene one, finds Moses alone in the desert crying out to God. The evil spirit Azazel appears and asks Moses about his promise to free his people. Moses calls on Jehova and goes into the mountains to pray. The choir appears and Moses asks God to remove the curse on the people and the country. Moses finally falls from exhaustion. In scene two of the second act Josavetta, the spirit of Moses mother appears, and sings about the terrible situation in the country. Azazel, the evil spirit, joins Josavetta. They sing about destruction and laugh at Moses. Moses feels his people will suffer future hardships and calls on Jehovah. Moses finally cries out that Jehova has deceived him and falls while surrounded by satonic laughter and the approaching storm. The voice of Jehovah is heard in the third scene of the second act. The sound of thunder, storms and winds are heard. Jehovah speaks about the penalty that will be put on Moses and he will never see the promised land. A search for Moses begins. People are afraid he is dead. Lea and Joshua support Moses. The two who were against Moses, Aviron and Datan are brought forth. One is stoned and the other is hanged. Lea and Joshua issue a call to arms, to march, to fight. The opera closes with an epilog in which the narrator, Lea and Joshua, and the choir call out for peace. Peace for the people, the land and with God. They have not yet arrived in the Promised Land. Composer Skoryk presents very powerful and appropriate music with the libretto, which is sung dramatically by the soloists and the large choir. Many of the scenes are dark, haunting and moving. Those who have seen the dress rehearsals come away with high praise for the music and the entire production. Critics are already calling "Moses" an outstanding contribution to the arts on an international level worthy of being premiered in one of the finest opera houses in the world. "Moses" could well end up a classic for the ages. Moses is portrayed by bass singer Oleksander Hromysh, the narrator is Ihor Kushpler, Azazel, the demon, is played by tenor Oleksiy Danylchuk and the mother of Moses, Josavetta, is mezzo-soprano soloist Natalia Svoboda. There are more than 320 persons involved in the total production. The composer Myroslaw Skoryk also serves as the musical director. The stage is set, the choir is ready, the soloists are eager to perform and the curtain is about to go up on the world premiere performance of the opera "Moses" in the Lviv Theater for Opera and Ballet in Lviv, Ukraine.
Moses Director/Producer Zbigniev Khshanovskyj (right) busy at work after the dress rehearsal talking to various members of the cast and the managers. |
Pro-W (Ukraine), an affiliate of ProW International Corp. of New
Jersey (USA), together with a Belgian/Polish bank's affiliate in
Ukraine: Western Ukrainian Commercial Bank (ZUKB) formed a partnership
which has ensured the production of "Moses" and will enable this
outstanding work to be seen and heard worldwide. The partnership
has provided support and financing for this new work of Ukrainian
musicians and artists.
Financing the production of major new works of art and culture in the post-Soviet republics such as Ukraine has been most difficult. The Lviv Theatre and all of those involved in the production of "Moses" have expressed their appreciation for the outstanding support received from the people at ProW (Ukraine) and the Western Ukrainian Commercial Bank and for all the support they have received during the past two years. "Moses" List of Characters/Soloists Moses: Oleksander Hromysh "Moses" Production Director of the Theatre: Tadey Eder "Moses" Recordings General Producer: Walter Prochorenko 1) Photographs and Information about the composer
of "Moses" Myrosalv Shoryk Myroslav Shoryk Musician, educator and composer Myroslav Shoryk was born in 1938. From 1955 until 1960 he studied composition at the Lviv Conservatory, Lviv, Ukraine, with professor S. Liudkevych, P. Simovych and A. Soltys. Between 1960 and 1963, he studied for his master's degree at the Moscow Conservatory with Dmitri Kabelevsky.. Since 1968, he has been the secretary of the Ukrainian Composer's Union. Mr. Skoryk is a laureate of Ukraine's Taras Shevchenko Prize and hold the title of "People's Artist of Ukraine." Myroslav Shoryk is today one of Ukraine's most distinguished musical artists and educators. He has been a professor of the Lviv and Kyiv Conservatories since 1984 and head of the Lviv Branch of the Ukrainian Composer's Union. His works include: Ballet "Kameniary", Concerto for Orchestra "Carpathian, Requiem for Chorus and Soloists," the "Hutsul Triptych" for symphonic orchestra, "Partita No. 1-7", music for the film "Shadows for Forgotten Ancestors and "Toccata".
Bohdan Stelmakh Bohdan Stelmakh......co-writer of the libretto for "Moses" with composer Myroslav Shoryk, was born in 1943. He is the writer of more than 30 collections of books and verses, songs, and dramatic poems. His plays, "The Majic of True Song," "Golden and Dear", "Tailcoat Of A Higher Degree," and "Indigence Teaches", were performed on various stages of Ukrainian theaters. Mr. Stelmakh is the author of the remake of the libretto for "Kupalo" by A. Vakhnianskyj, and "Roksolana," by D. Sichynskyj. He is also the writer for the libretto for the modern musical by Yuriy Svenko "Viruyu" performed on the Lviv Opera state for the Second Congress of Ukrainian Youth for Christ (1993). Moses Director/Producer Zbigniev Khshanovskyj Zbigniev Khshanovskyj was born in 1935 in Lviv. His parents worked at a theater in Lviv in the name of Skarbka. He completed Ivan Franko University in Lviv as a theatre producer/ director. He also attended the Theatrical College in the name of Vakhtangov in Moscow. In 1969 Khshanovsky became the artistic director of the Polish National Theater in the Teacher's Building in Lviv. There he produced "Midsummer Night's Dream" by Shakespeare; "Antigone" by Anuyz; "The Wedding" by Vyspianskyj; and "The Old Woman" by Ruzhevych. He also co-directed with the Lviv State Academic Theater for Opera and Ballet such works as "The Wedding" in 1969; "Dames and Hussars" in 1976. His works were recognized at the world festival of Polish Dramatic Arts in Moscow and he was awarded a Diploma by the USSR Ministry of Culture. In 1978 the Polish Ministry of Culture awarded him a national medal for recognition of his contribution to Polish Culture. From 1983 he has lived and worked in Poland and is connected with the theaters in Schetsini, Wroslav and Valbzhykh. In 1992 he was appointed Director of the cultural center in Pzemyshl. In 1991 the Polish President awarded him the Officer's Cross for contributions to Poland. Recordings of "Moses" will be available in cassettes, CD's, videos and shortly in DVD's. Opera materials will be available at the Premiere and in Ukraine during the visit of the Pope. Materials can be seen on the website: www.LvivOpera.org/eshop for those who would be interested. The photos with this story are courtesy of ArtUkraine.com and Pro-W (Ukraine). ArtUkraine.com Information Service (ARTIS) Kyiv, Ukraine and Washington, D.C. June 15, 2001 For Further Information: ArtUkraine.com Information Service (ARTIS)
E.Morgan Williams, Washington, D.C. 202 437 4707 ArtUkraine@starpower.com
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