Rediscovered Ukrainian Opera Presented at The Clarice

This program explored Harkusha and the evolution of Lysenko’s vocal music in conversation with influential works.

The Maryland Opera Studio recently presented the world premiere of “Harkusha,” an unfinished opera by Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko inspired by legends of an 18th-century bandit. The program blended live performance with scholarly commentary, offering audiences an engaging introduction to a little-known corner of 19th-century European opera.

The evening featured excerpts from “Harkusha” alongside songs and operatic works from Italian, Ukrainian, Bohemian, German and Russian traditions. Throughout the performance, Professor of Russian Michael Lavery from the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures provided context that helped audiences understand Lysenko’s artistic influences and his significance as a foundational figure in Ukrainian classical music. Lavery and Roman Koropeckyj are co-authors of a forthcoming article on “Harkusha,” drawing on music manuscripts and correspondence, to be published in the Journal of the Royal Musical Association in Fall 2026.  Lavery transcribed the opera from manuscript sources, working closely with Olga Haldey, associate professor of Musicology, and the Maryland Opera Studio to create the recital program to clarify ambiguities in the score and provide translations and pronunciation guides to the student performers.

Developed through extensive archival research, the performance reconstructed the opera from original manuscript sources. The event was livestreamed to international audiences, including viewers in Ukraine, and offered both in-person and virtual attendees a rare opportunity to experience lesser-known operatic works while gaining broader insight into 19th-century vocal music.