One night only: Seattle Opera, PNB Orchestra share stage for Ukraine

I

t's a top-tier Seattle musical event, all to benefit Ukrainian artists.

The Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet's orchestra have announced they will hold a concert for Ukraine. Seeing either of the musical groups alone is a special experience, but seeing them perform together is a true rarity in Seattle.

It's one night only — Monday, May 16.

Emil de Cou is the music director of the Pacific Northwest Ballet orchestra. He said they felt they had to do something to support Ukrainians who are under duress.

"It's in times of crisis and turmoil that music speaks the loudest," de Cou said.

The one-night event is intended to celebrate the nation of Ukraine.

"One of the singers on the program is Ukrainian," he said. "We have music by Ukrainian composers. We have specially arranged Ukrainian folk songs. We have music from Swan Lake, [Der] Rosenkavalier. We have music from Romeo and Juliette."

De Cou said this is an all-music event; PNB's ballerinas won't be there.

And the artists are performing without pay. All proceeds will go to Polish organizations that will hold artist residencies for Ukrainians who need housing, food and rehearsal space.

De Cou said the show is also partly a move to highlight the Ukrainian roots of composers like Tchaikovsky, who are typically associated with Russia.

"Tchaikovsky's paternal family was from Ukraine," he explained. "His name originally was Tchaika, and [he] had a children's music school that existed until two weeks ago, when it was destroyed by Russian bombs."

De Cou said he and Seattle Opera officials decided they have to respond to the invasion of Ukraine, in part due to the fact that PNB has been performing Swan Lake, a show Russia takes tremendous pride in.

"We thought, we have to respond, especially now," he said. "And to take this music back. It belongs to the world, and it's the mainstay of ballet companies throughout the world."

Tickets are on sale now. It's a pay-what-you-can event, with a minimum donation of $10.

All proceeds will go to singers and artists who have had to flee Ukraine and are now doing artist residencies in Poland.

De Cou said he chose mostly uplifting songs, including some from Tchaikovksy's "Swan Lake," Silvestrov's "Prayer for Ukraine," and more music inspired by the country that's now under invasion by Russia.