Competition Status  – Participant

Rosebud opera is a project realized in co-operation of a famous Ukrainian punk-duet Hamerman Znyshchuje Virusy (Hamerman Kills Viruses) and betv channel.
This opera is about Cain and Abel. It represents the interplay of biblical plot and stories form Koran, as well as allusions on Citizen Kane, and Google versions of the first fratricide in a history of a mankind. Reflections on important questions, such as repentance and personal responsibility, are shown with allegory, parables, irony, and grotesque.
Themes of the opera are actual in nowadays world of wars, humanitarian catastrophes, and dramatic position of refugees. According to the opera authors, this is due to the problem of states and nations that haven’t passed through a catharsis, understanding of their past deeds, contrition and repentance.
On the other hand, opera raises a problem of ill-founded guilt. And this is very important for the Ukrainian society that is used to a victim self-perception.
Rosebud is a multi-genre opera, and thus it corresponds to a modern cultural diversity. Opera is built according to classical operatic art canon – arias, recitatives, choir – but has also elements of punk and rock-music, cabaret, Bertolt Brecht‘s epic theatre, and video art.
Several well-known Ukrainian musicians took part in the performance along with Hamerman Znyshchuje Virusy.
Pre-premiere show of the Rosebud took place on 16+ Festival of experimental, alternative and non-format music arranged and held by betv channel (August 14-16, 2015). Rosebud full version premiere was within the programme of GogolFest 2015 (International festival of modern arts, September 20, 2015).
Opera was highly esteemed by art critics who named Rosebud “one of the mane music events of the year”.