In that historic Ukrainian theater grazed by Russian missiles, Chiara Demelio from Sassari worked until a few months ago. The set designer created the scenographic project and directed the related installation works for the sets of two operas by Giacomo Puccini that debuted at the National Theater of Odessa: “Gianni Schicchi” and “Suor Angelica”.

Chiara Demelio comments: “It was terrible! I immediately thought of all the people I met at the Theater, starting from the Management, the musicians, the stage technicians, the singers, the dancers, the tailoring department, the workers and the whole world of people who revolve around that fantastic and gigantic place that I learned to love”.

A teacher of scenographic art at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Chiara Demelio accepted the job a year ago, when the situation didn't seem so serious. But despite the intensification of the bombing, the Odessa Theater performed Puccini's operas two months ago: "The shows, due to the curfew, took place in the afternoon and after the theater there was a short walk in the center. The atmosphere was surreal: on the streets, decorated in grand style with Christmas festoons, there were many very young people because all the other men were called to arms, background music, stalls, colored lights, parks and gardens in bloom. Then, when you heard the warning sirens announcing the explosions of the missiles that could be heard in the distance, there was a great sense of bewilderment and people ran for cover. It is true, I certainly cannot forget the inconveniences, the constant alarming sounds of sirens, the night-time curfew…, but, nevertheless, in an Odessa besieged by weeks of missile attacks and blackouts that left residents without light and heat, the inhabitants of Odessa filled their opera and ballet theater on December 20, attracted by the charm of Italian music”.