I am incredibly proud that my name is forever inscribed in the history of the revival of Ukraine's cultural heritage.
As a patron of this unique project, my name is now immortalized on the pages of every copy of the sheet music for the premiere edition of the first opera by one of Ukraine’s great classical composers
Dmytro Bortniansky was born in 1751 in the Ukrainian city of Hlukhiv. He was destined to become a prominent figure in European classical music. His mother was Ukrainian, while his father’s family hailed from the Lemko village of Bortne, now located in modern-day Poland. Dmytro spent over ten years studying in Italy, mastering the latest musical trends of his time and making significant contributions to the development of classical music across the European continent.
The premiere of Bortniansky’s first opera, "Creon," took place in Venice in 1776 and was a resounding success. However, the handwritten score of the opera disappeared and was considered lost for more than two centuries. Recently, this invaluable work was rediscovered in a library in Lisbon, marking an exceptional cultural event for all of humanity.
Inspired by themes from ancient Greek mythology, the opera tells the story of Creon, the ruler of Thebes, and his confrontation with Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus. Antigone defies Creon’s decree by burying her brother Polynices, who was deemed a traitor, and raises themes of resilience and resistance to tyranny. These themes are particularly resonant with Ukrainians today, who courageously defend their homeland against a modern aggressor.
The rediscovery of Bortniansky’s opera is unprecedented and represents an invaluable piece of Ukraine’s musical heritage. This masterpiece by the 25-year-old composer had to be urgently presented, as Russian efforts aimed to claim this opera as the work of a Russian composer. It was crucial to restore this gem to Ukraine’s cultural heritage and prevent further appropriation of Ukrainian artists’ works by Russia.
With God’s help, the opera "Creon" was solemnly performed on November 11, 2024, in Kyiv, bringing this extraordinary work back to the European and global cultural stage after nearly 250 years.
Project Participants:
National Presidential Orchestra of Ukraine
National Academic Choir Capella “Dumka”
Ukrainian soloists under the direction of conductor and stage director Herman Makarenko
Author and initiator of the project: People’s Artist of Ukraine Herman Makarenko
Co-initiator and co-sponsor: Dr. Mohammad Zahoor
Project execution and management: YUNA Music Awards and Pavlo Shylko
This large-scale project was carried out under the patronage of UNESCO with the personal support of Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Event partners included the General Directorate for Servicing Foreign Missions, the ECOGINTOKS Institute, and the Mission Ukraine Foundation.
The VIP event on November 11, 2024, was held at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among the distinguished guests were Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleg Sybiha, accredited ambassadors, heads of international diplomatic missions, as well as representatives of domestic and foreign media. They witnessed the return of Ukraine's cultural heritage to its rightful owners—the Ukrainian people.
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