Skoryk's opera "Moses" premieres in Kyiv

KYIV - Myroslav Skoryk's opera "Moses" premiered in the Ukrainian capital at the National Opera of Ukraine on January 27. "Moses" on the Kyiv stage is the second incarnation of the opera, based on Ivan Franko's poem of the same title. Five years earlier it was premiered in Lviv by the Krushelnytska Opera House to coincide with Pope John Paul II's visit to Ukraine.

The Kyiv production is staged by the young director Anatolii Solovianenko and the distinguished musician and conductor Ivan Hamkalo.

The stage setting is by Maria Levytska, and the choir is conducted by Lev Venedyktov. The choreographer is Aniko Rekhviashvili. The opera's libretto was written by Bohdan Stelmakh.

Maestro Skoryk was to conduct one act of the Kyiv production.

Bass Mykola Shopsha, one of four singers preparing for the role of Moses, told The Day's correspondent Tetiana Polishchuk that "Moses" is "a profoundly spiritual composition, and one must perform it with a pure soul. Skoryk has written very interesting music. I will be singing this part for the first time and am thrilled to rub shoulders with this original composer, who is a subtle and intellectual individual."

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 19, 2006, No. 8, Vol. LXXIV

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