Never too late to do something for the first time so it’s embarrassing to sample operetta this late in life.

Lviv National Opera being the perfect place to start.

Not a sell-out – ticket was 400 hrivna, about £9.

Didn’t follow the story, given it was sung in Ukrainian but that wasn’t the point.

The point being that Ukraine celebrates itself in the harshest of circumstances. Above is the ceiling of the auditorium.

No end of people posed for pictures inside one of the world’s most glorious venues.

An ante room features famous performers from down the years.

Audience members included toddlers and teenagers who whipped their phones out to film part of the show.

I left it to the curtain call.