Ukrainian Artists Perform Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Across Europe
Ukrainian ballet dancers Natalia Matsak and Serhii Kryvokon are currently touring Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with a production of 'Swan Lake'. Their performances with the United European Ballet, a 50-member professional troupe, have ignited controversy due to their involvement with the work of Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky during wartime. This tour highlights the complex cultural dilemmas faced by Ukrainian artists since Russia's full-scale invasion.
Matsak and Kryvokon are using their personal leave and funding to participate. The National Opera of Ukraine, however, only learned of their tour through social media. It is crucial to note that the National Opera removed all works by Russian composers from its repertoire as of February 24, 2022. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has also issued a statement, deeming the participation of Ukrainian artists in performances of Russian composers unacceptable.
Official Responses from National Opera and Ministry of Culture
Representatives of the National Opera of Ukraine stated:
'The official position of the theater is known: the removal of works by Russian composers from the current repertoire is a matter of principle, and we adhere to it strictly.'
Petro Chupryna, a theater representative, emphasized that the artists' tour contradicts the institution's stance on Russian repertoire. Natalia Matsak pointed out that the ban extends beyond Tchaikovsky to include works like Khachaturian's 'Spartacus' and the 'Carmen Suite'.
Serhii Kryvokon holds a military service deferment from the National Opera. In a related move underscoring a broader policy, the Ministry of Culture has decided to rename the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine, signaling a wider trend of distancing Ukrainian arts from Russian cultural heritage.
This situation underscores the fraught cultural relations between Ukraine and Russia during the war. The rejection of Russian works in the repertoire of Ukrainian theaters and cultural institutions is part of a larger policy of dissociation. Consequently, the Ukrainian artists' tour with Tchaikovsky's ballet has provoked not only outrage but also raised questions about the identity of Ukrainian art within contemporary political realities.