Peter Gelb, general manager of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, has used the influence of one of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions not only to defend artistic freedom but also to amplify Ukraine’s voice on the global stage since the start of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion. The Metropolitan Opera (commonly referred to as the Met) was among the first major cultural organizations to condemn Russia’s aggression and sever ties with artists who supported the Kremlin. Gelb also made a powerful statement of solidarity by inviting Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska to perform at the Met shortly after the invasion began, personally bringing a Ukrainian flag onto the stage during curtain calls.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Peter Gelb (Photo: Myroslava Makarevych) In the years that followed, the Met continued to deepen its engagement with Ukrainian artists, including renowned conductor Oksana Lyniv. Under Gelb’s leadership, the Metropolitan Opera has also championed new works that address the realities of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Among them is “Mothers of Kherson,” a new opera by Ukrainian composer Maksym Kolomiiets that tells the story of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia – a work intended to keep international attention focused on Ukraine’s struggle for freedom.