Two Ukrainian opera houses crowned at International Opera Awards

The Lviv National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet and the Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater were awarded the Company of the Year prize, which was presented at the International Opera Awards ceremony held in Madrid on Monday, November 28.

That's according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports.

"We came from cities where streets are dark, but our souls are full of light. […] Our music now is buzzing with generators everywhere, but this is the music of our survival, of our life," said Oksana Taranenko, stage director at the Odesa National Opera.

Both theatres resumed staging productions after they were forced to suspend performances when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. The jury celebrated their "courage and resilience for continuing to perform despite the dangers and depredations unleashed by the war."