The international project promoting Ukrainian composer Dmytro Bortnianskyi's opera “Creonte” as a part of Ukraine's cultural diplomacy during the war
On January 13, Ihor Ostash, Director of the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, took part in a round table discussion on the topic: “The international project to promote Ukrainian composer Dmytro Bortniansky's opera ‘Creon’ as a part of Ukraine's cultural diplomacy during the war.”
It is worth noting that this international project was launched last year at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine.
Among the participants of the event were the author of the project, UNESCO Artist for Peace, conductor of the National Opera of Ukraine Herman Makarenko, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone, Director of the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Serhii Dvornyk, as well as media representatives, cultural figures, scientists, the creative team of the opera “Creonte” and international cultural experts
The discussion focused on the key challenges and opportunities for Ukraine's cultural diplomacy in the context of war: promoting Ukrainian cultural heritage in Europe, the role of artistic projects in shaping international support for Ukraine, and countering Russia's attempts to culturally appropriate the figure of Dmytro Bortnianskyi.
During the round table, the launch of an international project to promote the opera “Creonte” on the stages of European opera theaters was announced. Dmytro Bortnianskyi's first opera, discovered in Portugal after more than two and a half centuries of oblivion, was first performed in Ukraine in November 2024 in the hall of the Diplomatic Academy, and in October 2025, its world stage premiere took place in Chernivtsi.
In his speech, Ihor Ostash emphasized that in the context of targeted attacks on cultural infrastructure, Ukraine is defending not only its territory but also its cultural identity.
The director of the Academy paid special attention to the European dimension of the work of the descendant of the Hlukhiv Cossack centurion Dmytro Bortnyanskyi — his studies in Italy, the staging of the opera in Venice in the 18th century, and the return of this work to the contemporary cultural space of Ukraine.
According to Ihor Ostash, today the opera “Creonte” is a symbol of freedom, dignity, and the struggle against tyranny, as well as an important tool for international cultural dialogue.
In conclusion, he congratulated the participants of the initiative on the release of a unique edition of the work's score and invited them to present it at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine.
Photo: GDIP Media Center