Proud, defiant, brilliant: How a Ukrainian opera company gave new meaning to La bohème
TOGETHER AS ONE: The Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv sing the Ukraine national anthem at Hull City Hall
By Simon Bristow
When a country is locked in a battle for national survival, the art and culture that would normally sustain, celebrate, and enrich its people can be easily forgotten, or seem insignificant.
But on a cold February night two weeks ago, those lucky enough to have been in the audience at Hull City Hall witnessed just how vibrant – and vital – the art of Ukraine continues to be.
This was the setting for a quite stunning performance of Puccini’s La bohème by the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv, backed by a full live orchestra.
PASSION: The Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv performing La bohème
The passion, warmth and frailty you might hopefully expect from this most romantic of operas was there in abundance, but it seemed enhanced, deeper, more powerful because of the company performing it. And there was something else, too; an intense pride in each individual performance, and collectively, a quality by which Ukraine has defined itself over this last year – defiance.
This was most evident at the show’s conclusion, when the full cast reassembled on stage – including Muzetta’s dog – to sing the Ukrainian national anthem as the characters Rodolfo and Musetta held the Ukrainian flag aloft.
There had been warm and generous applause for each of the main performers when they took their bow at the end of the show, including for the conductor, but nothing like the reaction to this, as the audience rose as one to give a spontaneous standing ovation, with some cheering too.
HEARTS AND MINDS: The anthem was met with a standing ovation
It was quite a moment, one that will live long in the memory for those who witnessed or were part of it – for the actors who had been able to express their love of their homeland, and for the audience, which had been able to show its appreciation and solidarity.
This award-winning Ellen Kent production of La bohème is traditionally staged, and alongside fine performances features beautiful sets and costumes. There is even convincing and cleverly produced snowfall.
La bohème is set in the Paris of the 1830s, and tells the story of a poor seamstress and her artist friends struggling to survive and to live how they wish amid the harsh realities of life. It is not stretching it too far to see that as a struggle for personal and collective freedom, perhaps making La bohème the perfect opera for a Ukrainian company to be performing right now.
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Ukraine’s heroic and tenacious resistance to the horrific war launched by Vladimir Putin one year ago has arguably surprised everyone except the Ukrainians. It is a struggle that is also being maintained by its artists.
As the anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches on Friday, February 24, this night at the opera showed that Ukrainian artists are helping to keep their country and culture alive. Proud, defiant, brilliant. The ovation they earned could have been heard in Moscow.
A minute’s silence will be held across the UK at 11am on Friday to mark the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. In Hull, the Ukraine flag will be flown full-mast from The Guildhall, while Queen Victoria Square will be lit blue and yellow over the weekend. And on Saturday, Hull 4 Ukraine will lead a procession through the city centre, starting at Welcome House on Wright Street at 1.30pm and arriving at Hull Minister at about 3pm.