Opera in Odessa: “The musicians’ weapons are instruments”

Life is returning to the Ukrainian port city of Odessa. The opera house has also resumed operations. For the artists, a form of resistance against the Russian invaders.

Rehearsal in the Odessa Opera House – one of the symbols of the Black Sea city. It just reopened a week ago. But sandbags still protect the neo-baroque building in the center of the port city.

Opera and ballet despite the war. For the musicians, it’s also a form of resistance to the Russian war of aggression, says Sergej: “The city is reviving – even in these difficult times. And the musicians’ weapons are our instruments. We’re trying to do our part to win.”

That seems far away these days. Many regions of Ukraine are currently being attacked with rockets. And off Odessa, the Russian Black Sea fleet is blocking the sea, and what was once the country’s most important industrial port is standing still.

Protective cellar for artists and audience

And again and again there are air raid alarms. Then the rehearsals and performances in the opera have to be interrupted. So also this time. Conductor Igor Tschernezkyj leads into the shelter: “Prepared for many people, there is fresh air and water for everyone,” he says.

So that everyone can fit into the protective cellar in an emergency, only 400 guests are currently allowed to come. Although the opera house has room for over 1000 people. And which pieces are played depends on the artists available. Many have left the city.

The others defy the war and during rehearsals they often sit in the basement with the mechanics, sound engineers and cashiers. Ballerina Kateryna Burdik says: “It’s also a difficult topic for me to dance when our soldiers die not far away. It’s difficult, I have an ambivalent attitude to it.”

“Such a delight”

If it is possible, the ensemble also plays for soldiers. That would give the troops moral support, they are convinced of that. The front is only about 100 kilometers away, but the opera house in Odessa is also fighting to preserve Ukrainian culture.

Meanwhile, the first guests are gathering in the entrance hall. Among them, 80-year-old Klavdiya. “It’s such a pleasure to go back to the theater. I want to rest. I’m fed up with this war. I’m from Odessa, the people here are like that. We’ll all of them hit and Putin gets hit on the head,” she says.

Performance under rockets

But the Russian President is currently launching more and more rockets into many regions in Ukraine. And so this demonstration has to be interrupted because of an air raid alarm. Despite the shelter, many people flock outside into the sun – including musician Sergej: “It’s war. What can you do? The job has its pitfalls, but we make people happy,” he says.

But isn’t it dangerous to be on the street now? Sergej is about to reply that it is dangerous everywhere. At this moment, the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense intercepts a missile that was supposed to hit Odessa.

Nobody gets hurt and the people in front of the opera react with astonishing composure. After about half an hour, the musicians and audience do the only thing left to do – carry on.