On December 1, at the invitation of the Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Ukraine, Carlo Formosa, Ukrainian Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi attended a special premiere at the National Opera of Ukraine.
The performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Il Trovatore was conducted by Italian maestro Stefano Torboli, with the participation of Italian tenor Francesco Conju.
"This event demonstrates the long-standing and effective cooperation between two governments, two artistic nations — Ukraine and Italy," said Mykola Tochytskyi.
The Minister thanked the Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Ukraine for his support and emphasized the power of cultural diplomacy.
This project is another step in the fruitful cooperation between the National Opera of Ukraine, the Embassy of Italy in Ukraine, and the Italian Institute of Culture.
"The choice of Il Trovatore for this evening is especially symbolic. Verdi's opera tells a story filled with passion, deceit, struggle, and, above all, resilience. Its heroes live in a world full of conflict and misunderstanding, but each of them fights for what they believe in: love, justice, and freedom. This resonates with Ukraine's story today, as it courageously defends its independence, identity, and values. Italy stands by Ukraine in this fight through political, military, humanitarian, and cultural support, but most importantly — with its heart," said Carlo Formosa.
The libretto, written by Salvatore Cammarano based on the play by Antonio García Gutiérrez, transported the audience into the dramatic atmosphere of classic Italian art.
The evening marked an important step in strengthening cultural ties between Ukraine and Italy and reaffirmed the significant role of international cooperation in the cultural sphere during wartime.
