Contemporary opera practices in the context of postcolonial debates: the case of Ukraine

The purpose of the article is to analyze the impact of contemporary postcolonial discussions on the transformation processes in the genre of Ukrainian opera, focusing on the role of opera theatre and independent opera projects in shaping Ukrainian national cultural identity, integrating national folklore into professional artistic practices, and introducing new Ukrainian works into the international cultural context, in particular through artistic reflection on universal challenges within socially engaged opera projects. The methodology of the theoretical analysis of this article is based on postcolonial approaches to the study of contemporary artistic practices, which allows the author to bring cultural studies into the broader public discussions. The results. 1. The article emphasizes the importance of contemporary opera practices as effective tools for understanding the colonial, neocolonial, and postcolonial experience of Ukraine, highlights the role of the opera genre in shaping the cultural and artistic landscape of the country and fueling democratic processes within Ukrainian society; 2. Tracing the origins of the opera genre in Ukraine (Maksym Berezovskyi, Dmytro Bortnianskyi) and the key features of its development from the XVIII century to the present day, the author focuses on the socio-political conditions of opera development in the works of Ukrainian composers in the absence of statehood; 3. In the current conditions of the genre’s development, the author distinguishes, on the one hand, the cultural strategies of state opera houses, and, on the other hand, the experience of Ukrainian independent opera projects that are more mobile and flexible in mastering new themes and artistic practices such as historically informed performance (opera repertoire of the Baroque period); opera performances aimed at drawing attention to complex social issues (human rights, protection of minorities, social inequality, combating various forms of discrimination, etc.), as well as postcolonial discussions that have become particularly relevant after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The scientific novelty of the research. The article is the first to analyze contemporary Ukrainian opera practices as several independent socially engaged projects, which are viewed through the prism of postcolonial discussions. The practical significance of the article. The results of the article can serve as a basis for updating the curricula of Ukrainian educational institutions, rethinking the concepts of the history of Ukrainian culture and music, and as a guide for opera theater practitioners.