On December 10, the Lviv Philharmonic’s audience had a unique opportunity to immerse in the incredible, warm atmosphere of childhood, which was presented by the Ukrainian premiere of the opera Family Album by Polish composer Jerzy Kornowicz. The large-scale project brought together two of Ukraine’s largest philharmonic societies, as well as the outstanding ensemble, the National Soloists Ensemble Kyiv Camerata.

Visitors, from the youngest to the most distinguished, listened attentively and quietly to the performance and gave the creators loud applause.

The composer himself, Jerzy Kornowicz, came to Kyiv (where the first performance of the opera took place on December 8, and Lviv to express his support for Ukrainians and musicians in particular. After all, the opera embodies the ideas of brotherhood, the European community, and reveals the main values for different generations. The author of the libretto, Polish writer Michał Rusinek, embodied his own childhood memories in the text of the opera. And his sister, the famous artist Joanna Rusinek, created incredible illustrations for the opera, which the guests of the Philharmonic saw on a video projector.

Especially for the production, translator Tetiana Korotun translated the libretto into Ukrainian, and director Maryna Ryzhova managed to combine concert performance and stage action and created her own interpretation of the opera.

A contemporary composition was presented on stage: Anastasiia Povazhna, soprano, Stanislav Tsema, countertenor, the National Ensemble of Soloists “Kyiv Camerata” and conductor Nataliia Stets.

The project was co-financed by the: Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Polish Institute in Kyiv, Polish Authors’ Society “ZAiKS” and Polish Music Publishing House, which provided the musical score. The premiere was supported by: Lviv Regional Military Administration and Lviv Regional Council, as well as the main media partner – The Claquers, a classical music media.

Photo: Vitalii Hrabar