Latest news with #Chopiniana
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Ukraine's ‘ballet in a basement' sends a message from the war's front lines
In the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, it is hard to escape the war with Russia. Advertisement On some days, when the wind blows in the right direction, residents of the historic city can hear the boom of artillery fire from the front line, some 30km (19 miles) away. Most nights, Russian kamikaze drones packed with explosives buzz over apartment buildings as parents put their children to bed. Frequently – but unpredictably – a Russian ballistic missile will slam into the city. Three years on from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many people in Kharkiv suffer a mental toll from the war with its unrelenting, inescapable proximity. But there is a space in the city where – for a few fleeting hours – the war stops existing. Ballet dancers practise for the revival of Chopiniana in the underground area of Kharkiv's National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. Photo: Reuters A pianist plays as ballerinas practise for the revival of Chopiniana. Photo: Reuters
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Al Jazeera
Photos: In Ukraine's Kharkiv, ballet offers hope to a war-torn city
In the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, escaping the war with Russia is nearly impossible. On certain days, when the wind shifts, residents of this historic city can hear the distant rumble of artillery fire from the front line, some 30km (18.5 miles) away. Most nights, Russian kamikaze drones packed with explosives buzz overhead as parents put their children to bed. Three years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the unrelenting war exerts a heavy psychological burden on many in Kharkiv. Yet, there is a place in the city where, for a few fleeting hours, the war seems to vanish. Beneath the Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, in a dim, brick-walled basement, a dance company has established a refuge from drones and bombs – a space where audiences can lose themselves in performances of classic ballets. In April, this underground venue hosted performances of Chopiniana, an early 20th-century ballet set to the music of Frederic Chopin. Despite the improvised setting, the ballet was staged with full classical grandeur, complete with corps de ballet and orchestra. It marked a significant milestone for Kharkiv's cultural life: the first complete classical ballet performance in the city since February 2022, when Russian troops launched their invasion of Ukraine. 'In spite of everything – the fact that bombs are flying, drones, and everything else – we can give a gift of something wonderful to people,' said Antonina Radiievska, artistic director of Opera East, the ballet company behind the production. 'They can come and, even if it's just for an hour or two, completely immerse themselves in a different world.' Despite Ukraine's rich tradition in classical ballet, the art form now seems far removed from the everyday existence of Ukrainians living through war. Daily routines revolve around monitoring apps for drone alerts, sleeping on metro station floors to escape air raids, or seeking news of loved ones on the front line. Pirouettes, pas de deux and chiffon tutus feel worlds away. Nevertheless, the journey of Kharkiv's ballet through wartime reflects the ways in which Ukrainian society has adapted and evolved. On February 23, 2022, the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre staged a performance of the ballet Giselle. The next day, Russia launched its full-scale invasion. As Moscow's forces advanced towards Kharkiv and threatened to seize the city, the theatre closed its doors and much of the ballet troupe departed. Some regrouped in Slovakia and Lithuania, mounting ballet productions abroad with assistance from European sponsors. By 2023, although the conflict ground on, the situation in Kharkiv, in Ukraine's northeast, had stabilised after Russian ground troops withdrew. A new realisation took hold – this was a long-term reality. Locals began referring to the city, and themselves, with the Ukrainian word 'nezlamniy', meaning invincible. That year, work began on transforming the theatre's basement into a performance venue. By October 2023, it was being used for rehearsals. The following spring, authorities permitted the theatre to admit audiences, and small-scale ballet performances, including children's concerts, resumed. The revival of Chopiniana marked the next chapter in Kharkiv's wartime cultural journey. Staging a classical opera again signals that Ukraine endures, says Igor Tuluzov, director-general of Opera East. 'We are demonstrating to the world that we really are a self-sufficient state, independent, in all its aspects, including cultural independence,' he said. The auditorium now seats 400 people on stackable chairs, compared with the 1,750 seats in the main theatre above, where the plush mustard seats remain empty. The stage is a quarter the size of the main one. Grey-painted bricks, concrete floors, and exposed pipes and wiring form a stark contrast to the varnished hardwood and marble of the theatre above. The basement's acoustics, performers say, fall short of the cavernous main auditorium. For artistic director Radiievska, however, the most important thing is that, after a long pause, she and her troupe can once again perform for a live audience. 'It means, you know, life,' she said. 'An artist cannot exist without the stage, without creativity, without dance or song. It's like a rebirth.'
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Under bombs, above fear: Kharkiv's ballet reclaims the stage amid war's shadows
KHARKIV (Ukraine), May 31 — In the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, it's hard to escape the war with Russia. On some days, when the wind blows in the right direction, residents of the historic city can hear the boom of artillery fire from the front line, some 30 km (20 miles) away. Most nights, Russian kamikaze drones packed with explosives buzz over apartment buildings as parents put their children to bed. Frequently - but unpredictably - a Russian ballistic missile will slam into the city. Three years on from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, for many people in Kharkiv, the war with its unrelenting, inescapable proximity, takes a mental toll. But there is a space in the city where – for a few fleeting hours – the war stops existing. In the dark, brick-walled basement of the Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, a dance company has created a space protected from drones and bombs where audiences can lose themselves in performances of classic ballets. In April, the space was host to performances of 'Chopiniana', an early 20th-century ballet with music by Frederic Chopin. Despite the makeshift setting, the ballet was performed with full classical pomp, complete with corps de ballet and orchestra. That marked a milestone for Kharkiv's cultural life because it was the first full performance of a classical ballet in the city since February 2022, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine. 'In spite of everything – the fact that bombs are flying, drones, and everything else – we can give a gift of something wonderful to people,' said Antonina Radiievska, artistic director of Opera East, the ballet company which staged the performance. 'They can come and, even if it's just for an hour or two, completely immerse themselves in a different world.' Despite Ukraine's history of excellence in classical ballet, the art form seems far removed from the everyday lives of Ukrainians in wartime. Daily routines are given over to checking apps for drone attack warnings, sleeping on the metro station floor to escape an air raid or seeking news of relatives on the front line. Pirouettes, pas-de-deux and chiffon tutus feel a world away. Ballerina Antonina Radiievska, 43, poses for a picture after practising for the revival of 'Chopiniana,' the first since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the underground area of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 27, 2025. — Reuters pic New normal Nevertheless, the journey of Kharkiv's ballet through the war mirrors the ways Ukrainian society has adapted and evolved. On February 23, 2022, the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre put on a performance of the ballet 'Giselle'. The following day, Russia launched its full-scale invasion. As Moscow's troops reached the outskirts of Kharkiv and threatened to capture the city, the theatre closed its doors and many of the ballet troupe moved away. Some of them reassembled in Slovakia and Lithuania, and began touring ballet productions outside Ukraine with help from European sponsors. By 2023, the war was grinding on, but the situation in Kharkiv, in Ukraine's northeast, had stabilised after Russian ground forces pulled back. The realisation dawned on the city that this was a long game, a new, wartime reality. Local people started referring to the city – and themselves – using the Ukrainian word 'nezlamniy', meaning invincible. It was that year that work began on converting the theatre basement into a performance space. In October 2023, it began to be used as a rehearsal space. In spring the following year, the theatre was granted permission to bring in an audience, and it held small-scale ballet performances such as children's concerts. The revival of 'Chopiniana' represents the next milestone in Kharkiv's wartime cultural journey. Staging a classical opera again sends a message that Ukraine is still standing, according to Igor Tuluzov, Director-General of Opera East, the company staging the production. 'We are demonstrating to the world that we really are a self-sufficient state, independent, in all its aspects, including cultural independence,' he said. The auditorium seats 400 people on stackable chairs, compared to 1,750 in the main theatre upstairs, where the plush mustard seats lie empty. The stage downstairs is one quarter the size of the main stage. The aesthetic is grey-painted brick, concrete floors, pipes and electricity ducting running along the walls – a contrast to the varnished hardwood and marble of the space upstairs. The acoustic qualities of the basement, say the performers, don't match the lofty expanses of the main theatre. What matters to artistic director Radiievska, though, is that after a long hiatus, she and her troupe can once again perform at their best, in front of an audience. 'It means, you know, life,' she said. 'An artist cannot exist without the stage, without creativity, without dance or song. It's like a rebirth.' — Reuters
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
In Ukraine's Kharkiv, ballet offers 'rebirth' after bombs and bullets
A firefighter works amidst ruins caused by a Russian drone strike in an industrial area, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine March 27, 2025. \"In spite of everything - the fact that bombs are flying, drones, and everything else - we can give a gift of something wonderful to people,\" said ballerina Antonina Radiievska, 43. \"They can come and, even if it's just for an hour or two, completely immerse themselves in a different world.\" REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura A ballerina prepares for practising the revival of 'Chopiniana,' the first since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in the underground area of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre amid ongoing attacks, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 25, 2025. \"In spite of everything - the fact that bombs are flying, drones, and everything else - we can give a gift of something wonderful to people,\" said ballerina Antonina Radiievska, 43. \"They can come and, even if it's just for an hour or two, completely immerse themselves in a different world.\" REUTERS/Marko Djurica A ballerina sits during a practise for the revival of 'Chopiniana,' the first since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in the underground area of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre amid ongoing attacks, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 25, 2025. \"In spite of everything - the fact that bombs are flying, drones, and everything else - we can give a gift of something wonderful to people,\" said ballerina Antonina Radiievska, 43. \"They can come and, even if it's just for an hour or two, completely immerse themselves in a different world.\" REUTERS/Marko Djurica Ballerina Olena Shliahina, 38, poses for a picture after practising for the revival of 'Chopiniana,' the first since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in the underground area of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre amid ongoing attacks, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 27, 2025. \"When we started performing here, I felt very happy because we finally went out to our audience,\" said Shliahina. REUTERS/Marko Djurica Ballerina Olha Sharikova, 35, poses for a picture after practising for the revival of 'Chopiniana,' the first since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in the underground area of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre amid ongoing attacks, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 27, 2025. \"We are waiting for peace,\" said Sharikova. \"My parents are here, we were very happy to return.\" REUTERS/Marko Djurica Ballerina Yulia Litvinova, 19, poses for a picture after practising for the revival of 'Chopiniana,' the first since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in the underground area of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre amid ongoing attacks, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 27, 2025. \"I'm pleased to feel that there is supposedly no war. Everything is almost as it was before the war,\" said Litvinova. REUTERS/Marko Djurica Ballerinas practise for the revival of 'Chopiniana,' the first since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in the underground area of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre amid ongoing attacks, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 26, 2025. \"In spite of everything - the fact that bombs are flying, drones, and everything else - we can give a gift of something wonderful to people,\" said ballerina Antonina Radiievska, 43. \"They can come and, even if it's just for an hour or two, completely immerse themselves in a different world.\" REUTERS/Marko Djurica KHARKIV, Ukraine - In the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, it's hard to escape the war with Russia. On some days, when the wind blows in the right direction, residents of the historic city can hear the boom of artillery fire from the front line, some 30 km (20 miles) away. Most nights, Russian kamikaze drones packed with explosives buzz over apartment buildings as parents put their children to bed. Frequently - but unpredictably - a Russian ballistic missile will slam into the city. Three years on from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, for many people in Kharkiv, the war with its unrelenting, inescapable proximity, takes a mental toll. But there is a space in the city where – for a few fleeting hours – the war stops existing. In the dark, brick-walled basement of the Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, a dance company has created a space protected from drones and bombs where audiences can lose themselves in performances of classic ballets. In April, the space was host to performances of "Chopiniana", an early 20th-century ballet with music by Frederic Chopin. Despite the makeshift setting, the ballet was performed with full classical pomp, complete with corps de ballet and orchestra. That marked a milestone for Kharkiv's cultural life because it was the first full performance of a classical ballet in the city since February 2022, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine. "In spite of everything - the fact that bombs are flying, drones, and everything else - we can give a gift of something wonderful to people," said Antonina Radiievska, artistic director of Opera East, the ballet company which staged the performance. "They can come and, even if it's just for an hour or two, completely immerse themselves in a different world." Despite Ukraine's history of excellence in classical ballet, the art form seems far removed from the everyday lives of Ukrainians in wartime. Daily routines are given over to checking apps for drone attack warnings, sleeping on the metro station floor to escape an air raid or seeking news of relatives on the front line. Pirouettes, pas-de-deux and chiffon tutus feel a world away. NEW NORMAL Nevertheless, the journey of Kharkiv's ballet through the war mirrors the ways Ukrainian society has adapted and evolved. On February 23, 2022, the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre put on a performance of the ballet "Giselle". The following day, Russia launched its full-scale invasion. As Moscow's troops reached the outskirts of Kharkiv and threatened to capture the city, the theatre closed its doors and many of the ballet troupe moved away. Some of them reassembled in Slovakia and Lithuania, and began touring ballet productions outside Ukraine with help from European sponsors. By 2023, the war was grinding on, but the situation in Kharkiv, in Ukraine's northeast, had stabilised after Russian ground forces pulled back. The realisation dawned on the city that this was a long game, a new, wartime reality. Local people started referring to the city - and themselves - using the Ukrainian word "nezlamniy", meaning invincible. It was that year that work began on converting the theatre basement into a performance space. In October 2023, it began to be used as a rehearsal space. In spring the following year, the theatre was granted permission to bring in an audience, and it held small-scale ballet performances such as children's concerts. The revival of "Chopiniana" represents the next milestone in Kharkiv's wartime cultural journey. Staging a classical opera again sends a message that Ukraine is still standing, according to Igor Tuluzov, Director-General of Opera East, the company staging the production. "We are demonstrating to the world that we really are a self-sufficient state, independent, in all its aspects, including cultural independence," he said. The auditorium seats 400 people on stackable chairs, compared to 1,750 in the main theatre upstairs, where the plush mustard seats lie empty. The stage downstairs is one quarter the size of the main stage. The aesthetic is grey-painted brick, concrete floors, pipes and electricity ducting running along the walls - a contrast to the varnished hardwood and marble of the space upstairs. The acoustic qualities of the basement, say the performers, don't match the lofty expanses of the main theatre. What matters to artistic director Radiievska, though, is that after a long hiatus, she and her troupe can once again perform at their best, in front of an audience. "It means, you know, life," she said. "An artist cannot exist without the stage, without creativity, without dance or song. It's like a rebirth." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
In Ukraine's Kharkiv, ballet offers 'rebirth' after bombs and bullets
By Marko Djurica KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -In the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, it's hard to escape the war with Russia. On some days, when the wind blows in the right direction, residents of the historic city can hear the boom of artillery fire from the front line, some 30 km (20 miles) away. Most nights, Russian kamikaze drones packed with explosives buzz over apartment buildings as parents put their children to bed. Frequently - but unpredictably - a Russian ballistic missile will slam into the city. Three years on from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, for many people in Kharkiv, the war with its unrelenting, inescapable proximity, takes a mental toll. But there is a space in the city where – for a few fleeting hours – the war stops existing. In the dark, brick-walled basement of the Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, a dance company has created a space protected from drones and bombs where audiences can lose themselves in performances of classic ballets. In April, the space was host to performances of "Chopiniana", an early 20th-century ballet with music by Frederic Chopin. Despite the makeshift setting, the ballet was performed with full classical pomp, complete with corps de ballet and orchestra. That marked a milestone for Kharkiv's cultural life because it was the first full performance of a classical ballet in the city since February 2022, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine. "In spite of everything - the fact that bombs are flying, drones, and everything else - we can give a gift of something wonderful to people," said Antonina Radiievska, artistic director of Opera East, the ballet company which staged the performance. "They can come and, even if it's just for an hour or two, completely immerse themselves in a different world." Despite Ukraine's history of excellence in classical ballet, the art form seems far removed from the everyday lives of Ukrainians in wartime. Daily routines are given over to checking apps for drone attack warnings, sleeping on the metro station floor to escape an air raid or seeking news of relatives on the front line. Pirouettes, pas-de-deux and chiffon tutus feel a world away. NEW NORMAL Nevertheless, the journey of Kharkiv's ballet through the war mirrors the ways Ukrainian society has adapted and evolved. On February 23, 2022, the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre put on a performance of the ballet "Giselle". The following day, Russia launched its full-scale invasion. As Moscow's troops reached the outskirts of Kharkiv and threatened to capture the city, the theatre closed its doors and many of the ballet troupe moved away. Some of them reassembled in Slovakia and Lithuania, and began touring ballet productions outside Ukraine with help from European sponsors. By 2023, the war was grinding on, but the situation in Kharkiv, in Ukraine's northeast, had stabilised after Russian ground forces pulled back. The realisation dawned on the city that this was a long game, a new, wartime reality. Local people started referring to the city - and themselves - using the Ukrainian word "nezlamniy", meaning invincible. It was that year that work began on converting the theatre basement into a performance space. In October 2023, it began to be used as a rehearsal space. In spring the following year, the theatre was granted permission to bring in an audience, and it held small-scale ballet performances such as children's concerts. The revival of "Chopiniana" represents the next milestone in Kharkiv's wartime cultural journey. Staging a classical opera again sends a message that Ukraine is still standing, according to Igor Tuluzov, Director-General of Opera East, the company staging the production. "We are demonstrating to the world that we really are a self-sufficient state, independent, in all its aspects, including cultural independence," he said. The auditorium seats 400 people on stackable chairs, compared to 1,750 in the main theatre upstairs, where the plush mustard seats lie empty. The stage downstairs is one quarter the size of the main stage. The aesthetic is grey-painted brick, concrete floors, pipes and electricity ducting running along the walls - a contrast to the varnished hardwood and marble of the space upstairs. The acoustic qualities of the basement, say the performers, don't match the lofty expanses of the main theatre. What matters to artistic director Radiievska, though, is that after a long hiatus, she and her troupe can once again perform at their best, in front of an audience. "It means, you know, life," she said. "An artist cannot exist without the stage, without creativity, without dance or song. It's like a rebirth." (Writing by Christian Lowe;Editing by Ros Russell)
