Dmytro Bortniansky’s Opera 'Creon' Revived in Ukraine with 2026 Premiere and Global Streaming Release

Reviving Bortniansky’s 'Creon'

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: The opera 'Creon' by Dmytro Bortniansky, originally premiered in Venice in 1776, was brought back to life on the Ukrainian stage in 2026. Long thought lost, the score was eventually rediscovered in the Biblioteca da Ajuda in Portugal. Since no original version by Bortniansky has been found, a team of experts-including Andriy Koliada-undertook the challenging task of reconstructing the composition.

The Ukrainian premiere took place at the National Philharmonic in August 2026. It featured the Liatoshynskyi Capella choir under the baton of conductor Jörg Zwicker. For this revival, Taras Lazer adapted the libretto into Ukrainian, condensing the original three-act structure into two. His translation is crafted as poetic prose, designed for thoughtful reading rather than as prepared surtitles.

Details of the Score Reconstruction

During the restoration, it was noted that natural horn parts appear only in numbers 9 and 52. As Andriy Koliada explained, "The horn tuning is indicated in just these two movements, abbreviated as 'Bfa' and 'elafa', corresponding to 'Corni in B-fa' and 'Corni in E[s]-la-fa', reflecting 18th-century Italian notation practices."

The score also includes bass and tenor clefs, which is unusual since natural horn parts were typically written in the treble clef without key signatures. The completed opera reconstruction is now available on major international streaming platforms such as:

• Spotify
• Apple Music
• YouTube Music
• Amazon Music
• Deezer
• and others

Olesya Lazer-Pankiv contributed to standardizing the spelling of names and geographic terms. The score’s text combines libretto excerpts with editorial additions clearly marked by the editors.

Taras Lazer reflected on the adaptation: "The shift in genre and the merging of three acts into two influenced the language of the work. The final scenes and choruses carry a tone of exaltation and triumphant spirit, sharply contrasting with the darker episodes where Antigone and her lover Emone prepare for their suicide in the cave."

This revival marks a significant milestone for Ukraine’s cultural landscape, preserving Dmytro Bortniansky’s legacy for future generations. It highlights the dedication of Ukrainian musicians and scholars in safeguarding and revitalizing classical heritage.

Reinstating 'Creon' represents a vital effort in promoting and protecting Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Beyond restoring a once-lost masterpiece, the project showcases the talents of contemporary Ukrainian artists and specialists in classical music. By making this opera accessible worldwide, it fosters cultural dialogue across generations and enriches the nation’s identity and collective memory.