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"Opera "Moses" Prepares For World Premiere Performance During Visit of Pope John Paul II To Ukraine |
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The director/producer of Moses is an honoured Polish artist............Zbigniev
Khshanovskyj ( Zbigniew Chrzanowski)---See Part Four Opera "Moses" Prepares For World Premiere Performance During Visit of Pope John Paul II To UkraineThe Curtain Is About To Go Up On A Historic Moment Lviv, Ukraine, June 13, 2001........The Lviv Theatre for Opera and Ballet
is in its final stages of preparation for the world premiere performance
of the opera "Moses" 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 Tadey Eder, director of the Lviv Theatre, said during an interview, the theatre has completed all of the stage work and the final dress rehearsal has been held. The Lviv Theatre for Opera and Ballet is ready for the world premiere. The Lviv Theatre celebrated its centennial in the fall of 2000. The Theatre is a majestic, classical building decorated in a lavish style with an ornately detailed interior, which rises to a stunning hand, painted ceiling and an elaborate chandelier. The beautiful building, whose construction began in 1896, dominates the Lviv central square. It is truly a marvellous 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 Kyiv 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. The opera is in two acts with a prologue and epilogue. The powerful prologue presents a narrator who speaks exactly the words Franko wrote, about a repressed people and a country that is washed in the tears and blood of its people. The prologue proclaims the values of beauty, healing and liberation. 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 Jehovah 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 Jehovah has deceived him and falls while surrounded by satanic 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 epilogue 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 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 Theatre for Opera and Ballet in Lviv, Ukraine. Pro-W (Ukraine), an affiliate of Pro-W 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 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
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PolishNews. E-mail Mews Release 20 June 2001. |