Solomia Krushelnytska
Meet the diva who reigned on the opera stage in the early 20th century and used her voice to promote Ukrainian culture
Solomiya Krushelnytska - Valentina in J. Meyerber's opera "Huguenots" by Celebration files by Lviv National OperaCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Solomia Krushelnytska was an opera theater actress who was always distinctive among millions, thanks to her great voice and performance. Famous newspapers wrote articles about her, but she never shared much about herself, leaving her personal life behind the scenes.
Krushelnytska was born in Ukraine in 1872. She began her musical training at a young age and made her professional debut in 1893.
She quickly became one of the most renowned opera singers in the world, performing in major opera houses in Europe and the United States. Krushelnytska performed no less than 63 parts in eight different languages.
She was able to learn a role in a new opera in only two days, and develop the character of a role in another three or four.
Krushelnytska's part in the Chio-Chio-san by Lviv National Opera archivesCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Poets dedicated works to her. Composers found inspiration in her performances. Her colleagues were honored to sing with Krushelnytska. She travelled around the world, performing in the most famous theaters.
Krushelnytska was also a political activist. She was a vocal critic of the Russian Empire and supported the Ukrainian independence movement.
She was especially known for her interpretations of Ukrainian folk songs, which she often performed in her native language. Ukraine was always in Solomia's heart.
S. Krushelnytska in a concert dress by Lviv National Opera archivesCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
After the war, Solomiya Krushelnytska remained in Lviv. She was no longer a star, just a teacher at the Lviv Conservatory with an incredible legacy, and her voice made its final calls from behind the iron curtain of the Soviet Union.
Song "Through the Vineyard" performed by Solomiya Krushelnytska (Recorded by the Columbia company, USA, Chicago, 1928)
Text: based on text by Anastasia Denysenko
Original text from the album of the Prominent Ukrainians project, published jointly by Pictoric Illustrators Club, Pavlo Gudimov Ya Gallery Art Center, Artbook Publishing House and Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Photo:
Сelebration files by Lviv National Opera
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