culture
National Opera of Ukraine Concludes 158th Season With Two Gala Concerts
Two gala concerts on Volodymyrska Street bring together the soloists, choir and orchestra who shaped the season's performances.
How we reported this
The National Opera of Ukraine named after Taras Shevchenko will close its 158th theatrical season with two gala concerts on 18 and 19 July 2026 from 15:00 to 17:30 at its venue on Volodymyrska Street, 50, in Kyiv.
The Performers Who Built the Season
Leading opera and ballet soloists, together with the theatre's choir and orchestra, will present the evening programmes. These artists have delivered the full range of works staged during the season, moving between demanding vocal roles and intricate dance sequences that audiences followed month after month.
The concerts gather 21 opera and ballet excerpts drawn directly from productions already seen on the same stage. Pieces range from the overture to Zaporozhets Beyond the Danube and the adagio from the ballet Forest Song to the Queen of the Night's aria from The Magic Flute, the Habanera from Carmen, and Cio-Cio-San's monologue from Madama Butterfly. Each selection reflects weeks of rehearsal and performance by the same ensemble members.
Work Behind the Curtain
Behind every excerpt stand the stage crews, costume teams and technical staff who maintained the productions throughout the season. Their daily work ensured the lighting, sets and orchestral support remained consistent for the soloists and chorus who appear on the gala programmes.
The two performances therefore serve as a single showcase of the collective effort that sustained the 158th season from opening night to its final weekend.
Attending the Concerts
Tickets are priced from UAH 600 to UAH 1,500. The programmes run for two and a half hours each afternoon on the stated dates at the theatre's Volodymyrska Street address. Advance booking through the theatre's regular channels is the direct route for those planning to attend.