THE MUSIC SCENE: Bass-baritone Pavlo Hunka stars in "Wozzeck" (03/26/06)

THE MUSIC SCENE: Bass-baritone Pavlo Hunka stars in "Wozzeck"

by Wasyl Sydorenko

TORONTO - On March 31, April 2, 5, 8, 11 and 13, the Canadian Opera Company (COC) will feature British-Ukrainian bass-baritone Pavlo Hunka in the title role of Alban Berg's 1925 opera, "Wozzeck."

In the 1920s, "Wozzeck" and other modern operas like Kurt Weill's "Die Dreigroschenoper," Ernst Krenek's "Johnny Spielt Auf" and Sergei Prokofiev's "Love of Three Oranges," were all performed in Ukraine. Ukraine's capital at the time, Kharkiv, was the center of theatrical innovation, with Les Kurbas staging futuristic productions of Ukrainian dramas, which included robots and even Martians. And composer Borys Liatoshynsky wrote his ultramodern opera "Zolotyi Obruch" in 1929. Ukrainian culture in the 1920s was on the go!

In contrast, the Canadian Opera Company first performed "Wozzeck" in 1977 - 50 years after the Ukrainian premiere. Berg's other opera, "Lulu," was produced by the COC in 1980 and caused quite a scandal within the Ukrainian community. Word got around that the granddaughter of the metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Kristen "Tunia" Gregory, would be singing in the opera. It was only a minor role for her, but many Ukrainians who had never attended opera went. Those who survived the dissonances of the first act were rewarded with "Tunia" playing the role of a lesbian lover in Act II.

Ukrainians tend to believe that opera is the pinnacle of all arts. We have many Ukrainian opera stars who perform in major opera houses around the world. Yet, we are remarkably unfamiliar with the genre and know little about modern and post-modern music. We prefer our 19th century Ukrainian folk melodramas like "Zaporozhets," "Natalka Poltavka," "Kupalo," "Taras Bulba," "Kateryna." All of these works have been staged by amateur and semi-professional ensembles in Toronto. Performances are always a grand community event, but is this the pinnacle of art?

"Wozzeck" is a good opportunity to get acquainted with early 20th century opera. And Pavlo Hunka in the title role is a performer not to be missed. Two years ago, Mr. Hunka was invited to give a number of vocal master classes to Ukrainian music lovers in Toronto. The event was organized most professionally, and Mr. Hunka selflessly shared his art with the participants.

There was a utopian hope that a new Ukrainian opera ensemble could be organized to produce new Ukrainian operas. Unfortunately, there are few contemporary works, if any, worthy of the international stage. Myroslav Skoryk's "Moisei" is the only recent opera being staged in Ukraine. But how contemporary or Ukrainian is a biblical story?

I urge everyone in the Ukrainian community to attend the COC's production of "Wozzeck." Mr. Hunka as Wozzeck will certainly astound music-lovers and critics alike. Let's broaden our horizons, diversify our musical tastes and explore new forms of artistic expression. In fact, "Wozzeck" is the greatest expressionist opera ever written. It changed my life when I was 17. It'll change yours too!

Wasyl Sydorenko is a musicologist, composer and a librarian at the University of Toronto (Petro Jacyk Central and East European Resource Center). He has written articles on Ukrainian music for nearly 20 years and has been active with the Ukrainian Music Festival in Toronto for more than 20 years.

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