One of the most powerful soloists of the world opera scene and prima of the National Opera of Ukraine Lyudmila Monastyrskaya, wrapped in the Ukrainian flag, after the triumphant performance of the part of Turandot in the opera of the same name to loud applause on the stage of the New York Metropolitan Opera became, as the general director of the theater Peter Gelb noted, "

At the beginning of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, our singer performed the main role in the opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini three times in a row in one of the best theaters in the world. A talented Ukrainian woman in the performance of the Metropolitan Opera replaced the Russian Anna Netrebko, a loyal soldier of Putin's army of culture.

Lyudmila Monastyrskaya, who more than ten years ago became famous in the same Metropolitan as the best Aida in the world, at first did not agree to a rapid replacement, citing the fact that she had not appeared on stage in this party for a long time. But after a personal call from Peter Gelb to the Ukrainian number of Lyudmila, our opera diva accepted the offer.

- To come out wrapped in the Ukrainian flag - it was exclusively my initiative. I warned Peter Gelb about my plan, and he asked for some time to think, to consult. Because this step of mine is an unprecedented case, a political act that, in the end, caused a huge resonance.. In three performances, I twice went to applause wrapped in a Ukrainian blue and yellow flag, and there were many Ukrainian flags in the hall! Almost all high-ranking diplomats accredited to the United States came to the final performance with HD broadcast at the invitation of our Ukrainian. And that's the way it should be. It is very important that our ambassadors support the performances of Ukrainians abroad, especially at important stage venues,” says the singer.

- It's almost a year since Russia's large-scale aggression against Ukraine began.. Where did the first day of the war find you

— I had a contract in Naples. She was supposed to sing four performances of " But after these tours, it was destined to return not to Kyiv, but to Warsaw, which became the city of my temporary shelter.. Of course, there was a very terrible morale.. Now we somehow adapted and were able to reconfigure our psyche. Then most of us were in shock: how can this happen to us at all? The state of reality denial as self-defense. I was out of Ukraine for nine months, because there were many contracts signed several years before the war, and unplanned concerts in support of Ukraine. She took part in the unique project of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, on a big tour with this orchestra.

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— Tell us more about this project, please..

— This project was initiated by the Metropolitan Opera and the Polish National Opera. The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra includes leading musicians from Kyiv, Lvov, Kharkov, Odessa and other cities of Ukraine, as well as Ukrainian members of famous European bands. The group was headed by Canadian-Ukrainian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson. During July-August we were on a tour of the capitals of Europe and the USA. Final concerts were held in New York and Washington.

It was a very interesting but challenging experience.. It was not easy to adapt to the most prestigious halls, whose schedule is drawn up for the seasons ahead. Plus stress from the situation at home, due to sudden changes in climate and time zones... But all the effort and time spent were worth the results. Everyone felt even stronger, realized what a great culture we have, a wonderful school! We have something and someone to be proud of! We really need to work on ourselves in order to broadcast everything to the world at the proper level.. And music is a super-powerful conductor that can bring about true insight..

- You travel a lot because of your specialty, and during the year of the war you had even more. Plus tour with Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra. In which country (countries) of the world did you feel the highest level of empathy for what is happening in Ukraine?

- Obviously in America. I analyze primarily through the prism of the theater. Why Americans? This is a superpowerful state, a powerful country, they can afford to support us. They support the whole democratic world.

Among Europeans, I felt a high level of empathy for Ukrainians from the Poles, the Baltics: they still remember well what horrors the " In different countries, there were stories when she could hardly restrain herself. Everything that flies over us and kills civilians does not fly over other countries, and, fortunately, they do not know how it is to worry about their loved ones..

After the grief experienced, even good bright people, I am not ashamed of this word, feel a certain bloodthirstiness in themselves.. What is it? Where does it come from? War turns on all our primal instincts. But Ukraine rightly defends itself and the entire civilized world, therefore it has the right to such an emotional reaction.!

- That is, in this context, the boycott of Russian culture looks quite logical.. Unfortunately, not all professionals, whom Ukraine considers ambassadors of its culture, supported this boycott.. A special discussion is still caused by the performance of musical works by such Russian composers as, for example, Tchaikovsky or Mussorgsky.. We know that you were one of the first Ukrainian performers to refuse the works of the conditional Tchaikovsky. Please, once again, for the general public, argue your position on this issue..

— Putting Russian culture on pause, at least during this bloody war, is extremely important. In principle, the history of music is quite dramatic, since many Russian composers, who are considered markers of Russian culture, suffered from all sorts of Russian authoritarian regimes.. The same Rachmaninov did not accidentally choose emigration. Many of them also had Ukrainian roots... But, unfortunately, all of them, it must be admitted, are representatives of the culture of the enemy. We have no moral right to promote them now. In our opera house (National Opera of Ukraine. — M. ) completely removed all Tchaikovsky's ballets from the repertoire, although, from a professional point of view, this is a challenge for all ballet companies without exception. The operas “Aleko” by Rachmaninov, “Iolanthe”, “Eugene Onegin”, “The Queen of Spades” by Tchaikovsky were also confiscated. It cannot be otherwise, since the brutal genocide war against Ukrainians continues, and we have no right to promote Russian culture in any way.. Although many years of my career are personally associated with the performance of the Russian classical repertoire. But in modern circumstances, the music of these authors is publicly unacceptable..

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— What should we do today to promote Ukrainian culture? What are the first steps, even in times of war, we can take to change the situation for the better?

— For a long time, the West, including Ukraine, did not understand what large sums of money the aggressor country invested in promoting its “great” culture, its cultural product, its best musicians. At the same time, in Ukraine, at the state level, they often forgot to invest in culture in an elementary way.. In my opera environment, the Russians were not removed from the Western stages after February 24, they all continue to work abroad and beyond.. They are fine. We need to learn in any area to protect ourselves more, to unite and protect our interests.. The ministries of culture, foreign affairs, government agencies, public organizations, well-known Ukrainians in the West, opinion leaders should work as a united front - united by the promotion of Ukrainian multi-layered ancient culture, tirelessly step by step to open it to different foreign audiences.

- What helps you to hold on in dark times?

- I ask myself this question.. Obviously, first of all, work kept and keeps. It is so specific for me, it requires the highest concentration, especially when I am not just preparing a concert program, but reincarnating in certain images.. Work on the image is a kind of transformation. I thought a lot about this, because I chose this profession, apparently, based on the special traits of my character, the psychological characteristics inherent only to me.. And prayers keep me, confidence that everything will be fine.

– What kind of music, works of which composers could you express your emotions, experiences today, and what kind of music do you calm yourself down?

— I like to soothe myself with Ella Fitzgerald's singing.. This is purely to move away from everything, from bad thoughts, to put yourself in order.. I love Chopin's nocturnes. Or sometimes I listen to the so-called music for meditation, a la nirvana. It's about what calms. And to lift the spirit today - this, of course, is " At all, without exception, concerts, we sang both the Anthem of Ukraine and Chervona Kalina, its classical version. These motivating works are in the spotlight of the whole world, they raise our spirit, the morale of our soldiers. And I note that a lot of good Ukrainian music was born right now.

- Which of the contemporary performers are you most interested in

— I like Kalush in a pink hat, I really like Onuka. My daughter, my Anya, also writes music, songs through which she expresses her feelings.. How this crazy war affected our children! I think about the little ones all the time. how it all hurts! We need to hold on!

- To hold on, you need to make plans, dream. Please share your plans for the near future.

- My next contract - in the spring at the Metropolitan should sing Tosca. But my desire is to stay at home more, in Kyiv. This is how I feel. My places of power are my native theater, the historical center where I live: Sophia Square, St. Michael's Cathedral, Peyzazhka, Andreevsky Spusk, Gonchar Street, Lvovskaya Square.

At the beginning of the war my family was scattered. Mom was in Kyiv until the end of March, and father was in his native Cherkassy all the time. Daughter in terrible stress went out during the bombing with her many animals. She is currently abroad. I am now with my son Andrey in Kyiv.

— What future of Ukraine do you see after our victory?

— I see Ukraine as a strong, leading country in the democratic world! Now many Ukrainians say how we did not appreciate our life in our country before the war..

Of course, it will be very difficult to restore some regions. But we are genetically built to be persistent and devoted to our land.. Some are frankly surprised that I am in Ukraine. But there are millions of people like me, and our territory is important for all of us as our places of power, our energy sources.. The truth is behind us, because we are fighting for our own. Ukrainians have never encroached on someone else's. And today they will do everything to never give back their.