The Mothers of Kherson opera and documentary released on ARTE

The opera “The Mothers of Kherson” and an accompanying documentary by filmmaker Jobst Knigge are now available for free streaming on the ARTE platform. The project is a co-production between the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Teatr Wielki – Opera Narodowa in Warsaw.

The opera, composed by Maxim Kolomiiets with a libretto by George Brant, serves as an artistic response to the forced deportation of approximately 20,000 Ukrainian children to Russia and occupied territories since the full-scale invasion. The work utilizes a “docu-opera” format, drawing on real testimonies from Ukrainian women, such as Yuliia Radzevilova, who navigated dangerous routes through front lines and multiple countries to reclaim their children.

The production aims to document the experiences of these women and provide a voice to those affected by the war crimes associated with the displacement of children, a matter currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court.