On September 24, during a working visit to the United States, the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Mykola Tochytskyi met in New York with Peter Gelb, the General Director of the Metropolitan Opera. Mykola Tochytskyi expressed his gratitude to Peter Gelb for his solidarity and support for Ukraine since the first days of the full-scale russian aggression.
The Minister emphasized that the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, established by the General Director’s wife, Keri-Lynn Wilson, has become a powerful voice for Ukrainian artists.
«This is not just an orchestra, but a symbol of our fight for identity, freedom, and cultural values. The three tours of the Freedom Orchestra have already demonstrated immense potential in conveying messages about Ukraine’s struggle for the shared values of the democratic world. We sincerely hope this project will continue,» emphasized the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
Photo from Keri-Lynn Wilson’s Facebook page
During the meeting, the parties also discussed the prospects of implementing two joint projects, initiated in 2022 with the support of Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska.
Commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera, Ukrainian composer Maksym Kolomiiets and American librettist George Brant are working on an opera based on real events, telling the stories of mothers about the abduction of Ukrainian children by russia.
The second project includes an annual internship program for four Ukrainian opera professionals at a leading theater in the USA. The first iteration was successfully implemented in 2023, and the next group of specialists will intern at the Metropolitan Opera this year from September 30 to December 13.
«We highly value the opportunity for professional development for young specialists in the opera industry. The internship program is extremely important and deserves continuation in 2025, as it is a significant contribution to the development of contemporary opera in Ukraine,» said Mykola Tochytskyi.
