New York Met commissions opera about Ukrainian children deported to Russia

The Metropolitan Opera of New York has announced the commission of a new opera which is once again in the news. According to the New York Times, the work is about the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. A way for the institution to renew its support for Ukraine, where the war has continued since February 24, 2022. The commissioned opera will be composed by a Ukrainian composer, Maxim Kolomiiets from a libretto written by the American playwright George Brant.

The general director of the Met, Peter Gelb, recalled on Monday the importance of “culturally supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom”. “I can think of no better way to achieve this than to create an opera that truly documents an aspect of the war and highlights the individual heroism of the Ukrainian people in the face of the most terrible and horrific atrocities,” he said. -he continued.

The plot centers on a mother's journey to save her daughter held in a Russian camp in Crimea. The stories of the characters, all fictitious, are based on the true stories of Ukrainian mothers. Several described traveling more than 3,000 kilometers between the two warring countries to snatch their children from the hands of the Russian authorities.

Composer Maxim Kolomiiets said he felt “a responsibility to create something great” and show audiences “something very worthy” of his country. “The goal is not only to draw attention to Ukraine but also to shed light on similar situations around the world where mothers endure immense suffering while trying to protect their children,” he said. -he continued.

Since the start of the conflict, the Met has also contributed to the creation of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra. This orchestra, made up of refugees who fled the war and Ukrainian musicians living in Europe, has already completed two international tours and several concerts in support of Ukraine.