Principal horn Erik Ralske's solo in “Frühling (September)' was haunting, and concertmaster David Chan's impassioned violin solo between the second and third verses of “Beim Schlafengehen (When Going to Sleep)' will long be remembered.

Norwegian Lise Davidsen, ascending to the rank of opera's top stars, gave an emotional account of Strauss' “Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs).' She filled the hall with her silvery, soaring soprano, bringing some tears to the audience when she sang of “O vast, tranquil peace” in “Im Abendrot (At Sunset).' The concert was broadcast on radio world-wide, including on Ukrainian public radio. “Members of the Metropolitan Opera company stand in solidarity with the proud Ukrainian people, so strong in the face of such injustice, destruction and death,” Gelb said in remarks from the stage. Met general manager Peter Gelb, who last week dropped star Russian soprano Anna Netrebko from future performances over her failure to condemn Russia President Vladimir Putin, also received a standing ovation. Tickets sold out within 10 minutes last week at $25, and additional money was raised in online donations. Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations, was introduced from the parterre level and received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of about 3,600. “I'm so grateful to the theater, to all the people who helped to do this.”

In some moments it was so sensitive and hard to not show my emotions,” he said later. The concert began with the 23-year-old Ukrainian bass-baritone as soloist in front of the Met orchestra and chorus and music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, starting the 90-minute program with Ukraine's national anthem.īuialsky struggled to hold back tears, and tapped his heart. With three huge yellow-and-blue Ukraine flags draped across the front of the house, the Met held a benefit for the under-attack nation.

With electricity out because of Russia's invasion, he didn't want her wasting power for the Internet stream. NEW YORK (AP) - Vladyslav Buialskyi spoke to his mother from Berdyansk, a Ukraine seaside town, and told her not to listen to him take the stage at the Metropolitan Opera on Monday night.

Met opera concert for ukraine