The Mothers of Kherson

The Mothers of Kherson is a new opera by Ukrainian composer Maksym Kolomiiets with a libretto by American playwright George Brant. The opera was created as a co-commission by the Metropolitan Opera (New York) and the Polish National Opera (Warsaw). It tells the story of three women from Kherson who travel over four thousand kilometers across several countries and Russian-controlled territories to bring back their daughters held in Crimea. The work is based on real testimonies of women who rescued their children from russian occupation. A concert version of highlights from the opera was premiered on June 4, 2026 at the National Opera of Ukraine in Kyiv, sung in Ukrainian, with the support of the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and in the presence of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska.

CNN’s coverage of the opera’s premiere in Kyiv:

"During wartime it is often hard to put our feelings into words, but music can do that. Since the war began, I have very much wanted to be here and fight on the cultural front. I am very proud to be Ukrainian. Early in the war I conducted the Kyiv Camerata ensemble at Carnegie Hall. Four years ago I barely knew Ukrainian music — and today we are performing a work by a contemporary Ukrainian composer.
Today I want to be a voice for Ukrainian music, and I am very proud of that."

—— Keri-Lynn Wilson, conductor and founder of the Ukrainian Freedom
Orchestra, and conductor of the opera’s concert premiere in Kyiv

Upcoming performances:

2026 - Polish National Opera

2028 - The Metropolitan Opera

Press:

Recordings:

A suite from the opera was recorded by the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, with Keri-Lynn Wilson conducting, and released by Deutsche Grammophon in 2026: