We invite you to a special event for opera art connoisseurs. The legendary Lviv National Opera presents at MCKM the opera “The Golden Hoop” by composer Borys Lyatoshynsky, staged by a young team of theatrical artists. Get ready to look at familiar events from a different angle, which are so reflected in today's Ukraine.
Legendary plot based on the work of Ivan Franko
Ukrainian composer Borys Lyatoshynsky wrote the opera “The Golden Hoop” to a libretto by Yakiv Mamontov based on the story “Zakhar Berkut” by Ivan Franko in 1929. A year later, the premiere of the work took place in the Odesa, Kyiv, and Kharkiv operas. In 2025, for the first time since Independence, this opera was staged by the Lviv National Opera.
The production was directed by one of the brightest Ukrainian theatrical artists – Ivan Uryvskyi, known for the performances “The Konotop Witch”, “Caligula”, “Maria Stuart”, and “Peer Gynt”. Together with conductor and producer Ivan Cherednichenko and set designer and costume artist Dariia Bila, they reinterpreted the classic plot. As a result, a masterpiece of theatrical and operatic art was created that everyone should see.
The Golden Hoop: a classic in a modern interpretation
The story “Zakhar Berkut” by Ivan Franko is well known to many from school days. Its events unfold in the 13th century in the Carpathians and tell about the struggle of the mountain tribe of Tukhlians against the Mongol invasion. Maksym Berkut, the son of the community leader Zakhar Berkut, fights the enemy, is captured, and ultimately dies defending the freedom of his people and love.
In the opera “The Golden Hoop” Ivan Uryvskyi transfers the events to a conditional space. An amphitheater appears on stage, resembling a large lecture hall, where “students” face figures in glass jars – like archaeological exhibits coming to life right before the audience. Gradually, the characters transform into medieval Tukhlians.
The scenography remains as minimalistic as possible: the boundaries of territories are drawn with chalk, weapons turn into a game with crumpled paper, and neon lamps above the stage form a symbolic magical hoop. This form allows for a deeper understanding of the story and emphasizes its relevance.
The opera “The Golden Hoop” in the production of the Lviv National Opera – is a powerful artistic statement about freedom, community, and the power of human choice. Despite the historical plot, parallels with the present are felt. The aggression of a strong conqueror, betrayal for benefit, community unity, and willingness to sacrifice personal interests for the common good – these themes are extremely relevant for today's Ukraine. Come to see a landmark work of Ukrainian music in a new, bold stage format!
