FULL KATERYNA (Rodin) Odessa 2023 Yulia Tereshchuk, Aleksander Prokopovich, Dmytro Pavliuk

Information on the Performance

• Work Title: Kateryna  
• Composer: Rodin Alexander  
• Libretto: Alexander Rodin based on the poem by Taras Shevchenko    Libretto Text, Libretto Index
• Venue & Opera Company: Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Ukraine  
• Recorded: February 24,2023
• Type: Staged Opera Live
• Singers: Yulia Tereshchuk, Aleksander Prokopovich, Dmytro Pavliuk, Olena Starodubtseva, Vladyslav Horay, Alina Tkatschuk, Kateryna Tsymbalyuk, Denis Bogatchov, Yuriy Dudar
• Conductor: Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich  
• Orchestra:
• Chorus Master: Valery Regrut  
• Choreographer: Oleksiy Sklyarenko  
• Stage Director: Oksana Taranenko  
• Stage Designer: Igor Anisenko  
• Costume Designer:   
• Lighting Designer: Maksym Dyedov  

Information about the Recording

• Published by: ARTE  
• TV Director: Serhiy Zhulin  
• Date Published: 2023  
• Format: Streaming
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs  
• Video Recording from: ok     FULL VIDEO
•  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

To mark the anniversary of the beginning of the war, ARTE Concert is showing the Ukrainian opera “Kateryna”, on 24 February 2023, a work commissioned by the Ukrainian composer Alexander Rodin. “Kateryna” was premiered in September 2022 at the Odessa Opera House despite the Russian war of aggression. The opera’s premiere was scheduled for 27 March, World Theatre Day.

“Kateryna” tells the story of a Ukrainian girl whose love is betrayed by a Russian soldier. In her despair, she leaves her child alone in the forest and drowns herself in the lake.

Act 1
Villagers are gathering for the winter solstice celebration. The light of the Christmas star, that flashes in the sky, illuminates everyone around. The children joyfully meet Vertep that will tell the tragic story of Kateryna. Death, the Devil, the Witch, the Gypsy, Shinkarka, the Angel and a lyre player Perebendya perform ancient Ukrainian rites, accompanying them with dances and songs playing ancient musical instruments. Their magic fills the entire stage, metaphorically turning it into a space of life.

After the winter comes the spring. The girls are greeting it with Vesnianka. Nature blossoms and so does the love of Kateryna and Ivan.

The blooming summer comes. The sun sets near a forest lake, it’s getting dark. Mermaids and other mystical creatures frolic and cast spells on the moon. In the moonlight, the Witch and her minions are playing games.

Young people are celebrating Kupala Night. Among them are Ivan and Kateryna. Girls flow flower wreaths in the water to find a couple. The ceremony is followed by jumping over the bonfire and burning a straw effigy.

Vertep is transforming summer into autumn and continues telling the story of Kateryna.

The autumn fair is raging with colours. Kateryna’s parents are also here. Having noticed them, the villagers are singing shameful songs trying to humiliate and insult the old people. Mother feels sick and, in despair, the father curses the community. The lyre player Perebendya and his Vertep companions are trying to settle the conflict and harmonise the space.

Act 2
Late autumn. Kateryna is singing a lullaby to the baby. The whole house gets filled with zlydzens. The exhausted parents appear. They kick out their disgraced daughter together with the child. Kateryna sets out on a long wandering path, accompanied by the Angel. The unfortunate girl goes to look for her beloved, hoping for his love and faithfulness.

Soldiers led by Ivan are marching through the winter field. Death is dancing its ritual dance while they are being swept away by a blizzard.

Fate brings exhausted Kateryna to a tavern where she can eat and spend the night. Ivan and the soldiers arrive at the same tavern. Kateryna recognizes her beloved and tries to regain his affection. Ivan rejects her and orders the soldiers to “kick the madwoman away”.

In despair, Kateryna abandons the child and runs to the forest lake to drown. The mermaids would be happy to accept her into their family, but Death does not agree with the girl’s decision. Kateryna insists, and eventually, Death grants her peace.

Disconcerted villagers and Vertep characters prophesy the fate of the orphan, Kateryna’s little son.