Ukrainian opera singer wins first prize
She is a soloist with the National Opera of Ukraine with an extensive concert tour schedule. This meant that arranging an interview was easier said than done. She visited Kyiv for only a couple of days to straighten things out at home and at the company. September 12 will mark the opening of the season, but no one will see or hear the singer on the Ukrainian stage at the time, only late this year.
She says she cannot miss the opportunity to perform in the most prestigious Norwegian audience, not after her triumphant appearance in Oslo, receiving a diploma of honor from Queen Sonja.
“It’s like a dream, yet I have my diploma and an invitation to perform with the National Opera of Norway, with the leading symphony orchestras of Oslo. Above all, I’ll be able to expand my repertoire. And I’m still in contact with the Kyiv Opera. Our contract remains valid; I am a soloist with this company. I’m grateful to the Ukrainian Opera management. They met me halfway and allowed me to perform abroad. I retain my Kyiv repertoire, so I’ll sing in La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, Rigoletto, and The Tsar’s Bride.
She says Queen Sonja’s contest will long be remembered. It is held jointly with the Norwegian National Opera, Academy of Music, the Philharmonic, and Broadcasting Corporation. This year the event featured fifty singers from a number of countries, each trying to display his/her best vocal capacity, and the competition was severe. The winner was presented with a diploma and a $14,000 check. She also says that she is not going to leave Ukraine, rich contracts notwithstanding. Olha was accorded a memorable welcome in Oslo. After all, Ukraine and Norway are linked by blood ties, although this is medieval history. Prince Yaroslav the Wise’s daughter Elizabeth married an intrepid Viking nobleman, who would become Norwegian King Harald III the Hard Ruler. They would rule the land for over twenty years and establish the capital city of Oslo. The Norwegians revere the memory of their Queen Elizabeth and her Ukrainian origin, although few know what is actually happening in this country today. Hopefully, Olha Mykytenko’s vocal and dramatic skill will help expand contacts between Norway and Ukraine.
“As I was taking my first steps on the operatic stage, it would take me a month to relax and stop blaming myself,” recalls the singer. “I’d try to analyze every vocal part, every nuance; I’d stay awake several nights afterward. Gradually, I learned self-control, so that now I can restore my energy in three days.”
Her immediate plans include performances in Greece and Spain. Olha Mykytenko is also very popular there, after her successful appearances in the Maria Callas and Francisco Vignias contests.
