From Music to Regatta: Odesa Showcases Culture and Resilience in Venice
The city of Odesa has launched its cultural days in Venice with a concert at the world-renowned Teatro La Fenice, marking the start of a series of events aimed at strengthening ties between the two port cities.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov.
He called the performance at the legendary opera house “a special honor,” noting the venue’s rich history and traditions.
The concert featured violinist Heorhii Sokolov, pianist Anastasiia Melnyk, and jazz singer Anastasiia Bukina, who blended European classics with Odesa’s own musical heritage and modern interpretations.
On Sunday, Odesa will for the first time present its veterans at Venice’s Historical Regatta, one of the city’s oldest and most celebrated traditions. The spectacle, held annually on the Grand Canal, features ornately decorated boats and rowers in traditional costumes, drawing thousands of spectators from around the world.
“A boat with the Ukrainian flag, in which will sit men who went through the war and were wounded, will become a symbol of our strength and at the same time a sign of gratitude for the support we feel in Venice,” Trukhanov stated.
Venice is covering the accommodation and participation of the Ukrainian veterans.
As part of the program, Odesa and Venice will also sign a twinning agreement to expand cooperation in cultural and social projects and to support one another in challenging times.
As The Gaze previously reported, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications has signed a memorandum with the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) to establish a Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund.