As part of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Bring Kids Back UA plan, under the patronage of Advisor, President's Commissioner for Children's Rights and Children's Rehabilitation Daria Herasymchuk, a ceremonial first performance of the children's anti-war opera "Brundibar. Voices of Children" by Hans Krása took place on the stage of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine.
This is a story about children who had their childhood stolen. The work of Czech composer Hans Krása, known as a symbol of resistance against Nazism, was first performed in 1943 in a concentration camp in the Czech Republic. Its main theme is children who became victims of war.
The legendary opera was performed by the voices of young Ukrainians who lived under Russian occupation, left Ukraine fleeing from the war unleashed by Russia, and whose parents are serving on the front lines. All quotes from the children of the Russian-Ukrainian war were presented at an exhibition by the "Voices of Children" foundation, which took place on the day of the first performance.
The opera in a concert version on the stage of the National Philharmonic was performed by the Children's Choir of the Kyiv State Music Lyceum named after Mykola Lysenko, the orchestra of the Academy of Arts of V.I. Vernadsky Taurida National University. The conductor and director was Antoniy Kedrovsky, the director and producer was Maksym Dobroliubov, the scenography was done by Oleksandr Bilozub, and the project stylist was Lana Teslenko. The Ukrainian translation was by Oleksandr Spivakovsky.
"Today in Ukraine, there is not a single child who has not suffered from the war. According to the state portal "Children of War," 19,546 Ukrainian children have been deported or forcibly displaced. Therefore, today, the question of their rescue is paramount. Within the framework of the Bring Kids Back UA national plan approved by the President, Ukraine is working on the search and return of deported children, their reintegration, documenting crimes, holding the guilty accountable, in particular, providing information support at the global level. The theme of the opera is more relevant than ever, as Ukrainian children are suffering from the cruelty and aggression of the enemy. The world must hear and see the extraordinary stories of Ukrainian children whose childhood has been stolen," Daria Herasymchuk said.
The project was implemented by the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, the NU SHO production agency, the state platform "Children of War," the NGO DUSHA UA, and the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation with the support of the Czech Center in Kyiv. The creative team plans to showcase the performance in European countries and engage the international community in the issue of returning and rescuing Ukrainian children.
