Opera's debut in Poland
The opera Mothers of Kherson, composed by Ukrainian artist Maxim Kolomiiets, premiered in Poland at the end of the year. It was co-produced by the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Teatr Wielki in Warsaw, and was created in Warsaw. Plot centers on Ukrainian mothers
The opera tells the story of Ukrainian mothers who returned to Kherson after the Russian invasion in 2022 to find their children. According to the libretto by George Brant, the mothers were invited by Maria Lvova-Belova, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to leave their children in a Russian camp for two weeks to avoid the risks of the fighting. The mothers later discovered that their children were not returned to them, prompting them to travel 4,800 km to find them. Premiere met with mixed attendance
The premiere of the opera on October 16 was described as triumphant, with a long standing ovation. However, the audience was more sparse for the third performance. During the first act of that performance, two individuals, reportedly Russian, expressed disapproval of the content and left the hall. Staging emphasizes realism and visuals
The opera’s staging was directed by Barbara Wysocka, with set design by Barbara Hanicka. The production used video projections effectively, including close-ups of singers filming themselves with smartphones and creating the illusion of a moving bus on stage. The director's approach is described as somewhat simplistic but benefits from the realistic stage work. Music draws from classical traditions
Maxim Kolomiiets’s music, chosen from a panel of 72 candidates, has similarities with John Adams in the writing for voices. The score features a tonal style with lyricism reminiscent of Rimski-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky, particularly in the polyphonic treatment of the choirs and the use of the bassoon. However, the symphonic score is criticized as repetitive at the end of the first act, though it becomes more dynamic with the bus journey in the second act. Performers and future plans
The opera was conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson, who also co-founded the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra. She accompanied the Polish National Opera Orchestra with rigor. Notable performances included Ólafur Sigurðarson as the bus driver, Katarzyna Wietrzny as Maria, and Hanna Sosnowska-Bill and Izabela Matuła in the roles of Lilia and her mother Kateryna, respectively. The future staging of the opera by the Met Opera in 2028 may depend on the warming of relations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Scheduled performers for the Met, including Aleksandra Kurzak, Erin Morley, and Alice Coote, are expected to take on roles in the future.
