Kyiv Exhibition Honors Solomiya Krushelnytska, Featuring Her Voice via QR Code

Exhibition 'Grand Tour. Solomiya'

According to Главком: On June 10, the National Philharmonic of Ukraine in Kyiv launched the exhibition 'Grand Tour. Solomiya,' dedicated to the life of the renowned Ukrainian opera singer Solomiya Krushelnytska. The event opened just before the concert Solomiia and was organized by the team from the Solomiya Krushelnytska Music Memorial Museum in Lviv, with contributions from media artist Serhiy Petlyuk. The exhibition will run through the end of June 2026.

This exhibition aims to introduce visitors to the life and work of Solomiya Krushelnytska. Artificial intelligence was used to process photographic portraits of the singer. Attendees can listen to Krushelnytska’s voice by scanning a QR code, which provides access to archival recordings of arias from Giacomo Puccini’s opera 'Madama Butterfly' and Richard Wagner’s 'Die Walküre.' The project previously gained international recognition: in the summer of 2023, an Italian version was showcased at the Puccini Festival in Italy with support from the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, attracting many foreign visitors and Ukrainian refugees.

For the Ukrainian-language edition, support came from the ZMIN Foundation. Earlier previews of the exhibition were held in Lviv and Ternopil. The 'Grand Tour. Solomiya' exhibition is located at the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, at 2 Volodymyrskyi Uzviz Street.

Who Was Solomiya Krushelnytska?

Born on September 23, 1872, in Biliavyntsi, she grew up in the village of Bila in the Ternopil region. She learned to play the piano at age seven, taught by Yevheniya Barvinska. Her musical education began at the Ternopil School of the 'Friends of Music' Society. At 19, she enrolled at the Lviv Conservatory of the Galician Music Society, graduating with honors and a medal in 1893. Her first major performance came at age 20, singing a part in Handel’s oratorio 'Messiah.'

Krushelnytska made her opera debut at 21 as Leonora in 'La Favorite.' At 22, she received an invitation from the Lviv Opera Theatre but chose instead to study in Italy, where Fausta Crespi became her vocal coach. From 1898 to 1902, she was the prima donna of the Warsaw Opera, touring cities including Paris, London, Rome, Milan, Florence, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Lisbon, Buenos Aires, Saint Petersburg, and Cairo. Her repertoire featured over fifty roles, and she spoke eight languages.

In 1910, she married Cesare Riccioni, the mayor of Viareggio. She left the opera stage in 1920, with her final performances in 'Loreley' and 'Lohengrin.' Krushelnytska continued touring until age 66, and her husband passed away in 1938. In August 1939, she traveled to Galicia, where she gave private singing lessons during the German occupation. She died of throat cancer on November 16, 1952, and was buried at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv.

Notably, on April 24, 2019, a memorial plaque for Krushelnytska was unveiled at the Municipal Theatre in Santiago, Chile, where she performed in 1897. As Carlotta Venturi remarked,

'the genius of music descended upon her white cradle... the muses chose her as their interpreter, and from her earliest years, everything about her was pure harmony.'

The 'Grand Tour. Solomiya' exhibition serves as a significant cultural project, highlighting Krushelnytska’s contributions to global music and opera. It not only promotes the legacy of this extraordinary singer but also underscores the importance of Ukraine’s cultural heritage on the international stage. Its presentation in Italy reflects the global relevance and interest in Ukrainian culture, especially amid the contemporary challenges facing the country.

As the cultural scene in Ukraine continues to flourish, events like the Lviv’s Generation Festival showcase the community's resilience and creativity. This festival not only highlights local talent but also supports vital causes, reflecting a growing trend of cultural initiatives intertwining with social responsibility.