United Help Ukraine (UHU) and Loudoun Lyric Opera Company (LLO) are excited to announce the upcoming opera production of A Cossack Beyond the Danube (Ukrainian: Запорожець за Дунаєм) on November 15-23, 2025. This momentous event marks a significant milestone in celebrating Ukraine’s cultural heritage, as the first locally produced version of the opera will bring together American and Ukrainian artists, uniting diverse communities through art.
Considered a national treasure and deeply beloved by audiences for its accessible, folk-infused musical style, this comic opera has been performed for over 160 years in multiple domestic and international productions.
Written in 1861 by renowned composer and dramatist, Semen Hulak-Artemovskyi, A Cossack Beyond the Danube holds the distinction of being the first opera with a Ukrainian-language libretto. This opera in three acts with choral and dance numbers tells the story of the Cossacks of the Zaporozhian Sich, a historic fortified settlement, weaving together humor, heart, and patriotism. Its themes resonate deeply, celebrating Ukrainian identity and resilience.
“At its heart, A Cossack Beyond the Danube is a powerful expression of unwavering devotion to the homeland, a love that endures in foreign lands. Now, in the fourth year of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, supporting and celebrating Ukrainian culture is more important than ever to ensure its resilience,” said Maryna Baydyuk, President and Executive Director of UHU.
“As a first-generation American and descendant of Ukrainian heritage, I’m thrilled to combine my pride in my cultural background with the dynamic, versatile talent of Loudoun Lyric Opera. Just as LLO affords opportunities to young, emerging singers to explore their first professional engagements, this production will bring this important Ukrainian story to some of its first American audiences. Our audiences in Loudoun County and the wider United States deserve to experience for themselves why A Cossack Beyond the Danube is a must-know chapter in the rich breadth of the Western operatic canon,” said Mark Irchai, Artistic and General Director of LLO.
A Cossack Beyond the Danube, presented by Loudoun Lyric Opera and United Help Ukraine, runs November 15-23, 2025 at The Dreamscapes Performing Arts Center, 21014 Whitfield Pl, Sterling, VA 20165. Performances will be Saturdays at 7:00 PM and Sundays at 4:00 PM. Tickets are $59.99 general admission, with discounts available for seniors (65+), teachers, veterans, first responders, federal workers, and students. Purchase tickets online.
About United Help Ukraine:
Founded in 2014, United Help Ukraine (UHU) is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to provide the people of Ukraine with critical support, enabling them to survive in the face of adversity, defend and regain their sovereign territory, and rebuild and thrive in the future. UHU has provided over $86.5 million in humanitarian, medical, psychological, and other assistance to those harmed by Russia’s unprovoked aggression and advocates for a free, democratic, and independent Ukraine.
About Loudoun Lyric Opera Company:
Founded in 2007, Loudoun Lyric Opera (LLO) is the resident opera company of Loudoun County in Northern Virginia. LLO’s core mission is to engage, enrich, and inspire its community through intimate and compelling vocal performances.
