Ukrainian Composer to Create Opera Depicting Mothers Rescuing Detained Children
Renowned Ukrainian composer Maxim Kolomiiets has been commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center Theater to compose an opera centered around the courageous actions of mothers from Ukraine who venture into Russia to rescue their forcibly detained children.
The decision to commission Kolomiiets comes after discussions with Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, during her visit to New York last fall. Subsequently, the Met’s general manager, Peter Gelb, selected Kolomiiets from a pool of 72 applicants, with the aim of highlighting this compelling narrative to a global audience.
The storyline of the opera will be fictional but rooted in real events that transpired in Ukraine and The Hague. On March 17, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine.
Kolomiiets, who experienced the conflict firsthand as a resident of Kyiv before relocating to Leipzig, Germany, emphasized that the opera would beautifully capture the complexities of motherhood and childhood, shedding light on the hardships faced by mothers during their rescue missions. He expressed his hope that listeners would gain a profound understanding of these struggles through the opera.
To ensure the broadest possible audience, Gelb intends to have an English-language librettist collaborate with the composer in crafting the opera’s powerful narrative. This decision also aligns with Gelb’s advocacy for support of Ukraine, as he aims to bring the story to a worldwide stage.
The collaborative process will commence with the creation of a story framework, which will then be followed by the writing of a piano-vocal score and libretto within the next few years. A workshop will be conducted to further refine and develop the opera’s creation before it is ready for stage production.
Gelb expressed his aspiration for the opera to eventually become a full-scale production housed at the Metropolitan Opera. His steadfast support for Ukraine has included banning Russian star soprano Anna Netrebko from the Metropolitan Opera and providing assistance to Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra tours conducted by his wife, Keri-Lynn Wilson, who is a Canadian-Ukrainian conductor.
Through this joint commissioning with the Lincoln Center Theater, Gelb hopes to bring this powerful and timely opera to life, shedding light on the emotional turmoil faced by these brave mothers and their selfless acts to rescue their detained children.
In conclusion, the collaboration between the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center Theater, and Maxim Kolomiiets is set to deliver an emotionally charged opera on the subject of mothers courageously rescuing their forcibly detained children. With Gelb’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, this opera aims to captivate and move audiences around the world, shedding light on the strength and determination of these mothers in the face of adversity.
