At the opening night of Verdi’s Don Carlos on Monday, March 1st, the orchestra and chorus gave a moving rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem.
According to the RPO's former Education Director Roger Daily, the arrangement in this performance was done by RPO librarian Kim Hartquist. In referring to the Met's performance, Daily said it was "an emotional music moment and an inspired effort of an unsung gem.”
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last week, musicians across the globe have performed Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy i slava, i volia in solidarity. The national anthem performance was preceded by a moment of silence by the audience, before music director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, led the orchestra and chorus in song.
The audience reportedly sprang to their feet, and applause and cheers were heard at the end of the anthem.
