The Ukrainian Opera Diva in Vilnius at the Start of the Twentieth Century. In memory of the 150th birth anniversary of Solomiya Krushelnytska (1872–1952)

Abstract

The object of the article is the tours of Solomiya Krushelnytska (Соломія Крушельницька, 1872–1952), one of the most outstanding Ukrainian opera singers of the twentieth century, in Vilnius on 10 February and 21–22 March 1901. Not only Lithuanian but also Ukrainian, Polish, and Russian historiographies fail to reflect this significant fact in the history of musical culture of Lithuania. The concert of the world-renowned Ukrainian opera prima donna and her participation in two performances of an Italian opera troupe in Vilnius were important events in the cultural life of the city. They were warmly welcomed by the public of Vilnius and received glowing reviews. The acquaintance with the singer of extraordinary talent was a new and significant experience for the admirers of operatic art in Vilnius. The aim of this article is to publish the results of an in-depth analysis providing an opportunity to find out the circumstances of the tours of the world-acclaimed soloist in Vilnius. It also seeks to present a precise sequence of events that accompanied her visits and their reception in the city, as well as evaluate the artistic importance of her performances for the residents of Vilnius. At the same time, the article intends to fill the gap in the research on this particular theme and to enrich the material provided in the publications of the biographers of Solomiya Krushelnytska with her “Vilnius page”.