Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors tells the story in ballet about a short-lived, like spring, earthly and divine love of Ivan and Marichka, a Ukrainian Romeo and Juliet. Their passion blossoms amidst a backdrop of long-standing family rivalry and vengeance, and ultimately triumphs over this hostility. Ivan and Marichka are true children of nature; they listen to the voices of their shadows of forgotten ancestors which stir the souls.

Based on Mykhailo Kotsyubynskyi's internationally best selling novel, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a new ballet from Lviv National Opera adapted for the stage by the Opera’s director Vasyl Vovkun, chief choreographer Artem Shoshyn and set to the music composed by Ivan Nebesnyi. This powerful novel has already been adapted to the visual arts, cinema, music and choreography. Lviv’s production explores the cosmos of life, afterlife, man and nature, crafting a poetic tale that crosses the boundary between truth and legend, reality and fantasy. Performed by the dancers and chorus, this production is a modern and ambitious staging by Lviv National Opera and Ballet, which is streamed on OperaVision to mark International Dance Day. Performed at a time of war, the epilogue has a special poignancy; it features a funeral dance affirming the triumph of spiritual life over death.

Full performance streamed on OperaVision from 29 April 2024 at 19:00 CET to 29 October 2024 at 12:00 CET: https://operavision.eu/performance/sh...

CAST

Marichka
Anastasiia Bondar

Ivan
Arsen Marusenko

Palahna
Mariana Hres

Chuhaister
Oleksandr Omelchenko

Fire
Uliana Korchevska

Marichka's mother
Yuliia Ushakova

Marichka's father
Oleksandr Zozulia

Ivan's mother
Anna Yefremeniuk

Ivan's father
Andrii Bilous

Little Marichka
Mariia Melnyk
Karyna Volovyk

Little Ivan
Robert Matveiev
Marko Bilous

Choir soloists:

Soprano
Halyna Honcharova
Anastasiia Yatsenko
Anastasiia Kornutiak

Mourner
Iryna Chikel

Caroler
Yurii Trytsetskyi

Text
Vasyl Vovkun
after Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky

Music
Ivan Nebesnyi

Choreography
Artem Shoshyn

Director
Vasyl Vovkun

Conductor
Yurii Bervetskyi

Chorus Master
Vadym Yatsenko

Set and lighting
Arvydas Buinauskas

Costume
Nataliia Mishchenko

Make-up
Yurii Kultchytskyi

OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme. Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.

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