About the work
"Moses" is an opera by Myroslav Skoryk based on Ivan Franko's 1905 epic poem of the same name, with a libretto by Bohdan Stelmakh. It premiered in 2001 at the Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet, coinciding with Pope John Paul II's first visit to Ukraine.
Plot
Told in a prologue, two acts and an epilogue, the opera follows the aging Moses, who must lead his people through doubt and betrayal just short of the Promised Land. Franko drew parallels between this story and the suffering of the Ukrainian people under Russian rule, a theme Skoryk's opera carries forward.
Cultural significance
With more than 500 performers, "Moses" is one of the most elaborate Ukrainian opera productions ever staged; its funding included Vatican support, and it stands as the first contemporary opera by a Ukrainian composer after the country's independence.