Moses (Skoryk)

It was first performed at the Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet on 20 May 2001, to coincide with the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ukraine (23–27 June 2001).

[1] Franko's poem was conceived as an allegory of the Ukrainian people, which he saw as having great potential but weakened by political division.

In the desert, Moses is tempted by an evil spirit, Azazel, and also by the ghost of his mother Jochebed, who seek to get him to renounce God (Jehovah).

[2] The prologue and epilogue of the original poem are an address by the poet to the Ukrainian people, making the parallels of the story explicit.

The only significant story-line change in the opera is to introduce Joshua and his wife Liya (who does not appear at all in the poem) early in the story as defenders of Moses against Dathan and Abiram.