The role holds special significance for Monastyrska, Melnyk noted. In 2022, she made her debut as Turandot on the Metropolitan Opera stage after the theatre ended its collaboration with the Russian soprano Anna Netrebko.
The orchestra was conducted by Oksana Lyniv.
Following the season’s final performance, the Ukrainian guests at the theatre met Hollywood stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, who were among the audience members in attendance.
“A real New York surprise awaited us. We found ourselves in the same box as the legendary Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker and the acclaimed Hollywood actor Matthew Broderick. We spent every interval chatting together. We were genuinely impressed by how strongly they support Ukraine and how closely they follow developments in our country,” Svitlana Melnyk noted.
After the performance, Parker and Broderick visited the artists’ dressing rooms, where they greeted Lyudmyla Monastyrska, French tenor Roberto Alagna, who performed the role of Calaf, and Oksana Lyniv. In an informal atmosphere, the guests spoke about art, Ukraine and the role of culture in international dialogue.
“There were warm words, hugs, jokes and photographs. And so many expressions of support for Ukraine. These were completely genuine emotions, sincere smiles and a special human joy that cannot be acted out even on the finest stage in the world. Sarah Jessica and her husband were delighted by this atmosphere.”