( Photo Credit: Chris Lee ) On Wednesday September 18, 2019, the New York Philharmonic launched their 2019-20 season with an exciting concert, titled “Kelli O’Hara Sings Barber.” The evening’s program included the world premiere of Philip Glass’ “King Lear Overture,” as well as selections from Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet, Suites No. 1 and 2.” Starting with Shakespeare First on {…}
Opera Philadelphia will present the company premiere of Prokofiev’s “The Love for Three Oranges” as part of its O19 season-opening festival. The production will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opera, as well as Corrado Rovaris’ 20th year with the company as Jack Mulroney Music Director. “The Love for Three Oranges,” rarely seen in the U.S., “is probably one of {…}
(Photo: Yasuko Kageyama-Teatro dell’Opera di Rome) Sergei Prokofiev finished his opera, “The Fiery Angel” in late 1927, and missed the deadline for its inclusion in the Stadtische Oper, Berlin’s 1927-28 season, leading to the cancelation of the contract. An abridged concert performance was given in 1928 in Paris, but Prokofiev was disappointed by its critical reception. Although there was tentative {…}
On his deathbed, Sergei Prokofiev talked of his hope that “War and Peace,” the opera he considered to be his greatest composition for the stage, would eventually become known the world over in its definitive version. In Russia and other Slavic countries this has largely been achieved, but in the West, performances have been rare indeed. Welsh National Opera’s decision {…}
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, born on Nov. 11, 1821, is one of the most influential writers of all time. His works, most famously “Crime and Punishment” and “The Brothers Karamazov,” are best known for their psychological depth and some have gone so far as to call him one of the greatest psychologists of world literature. An ardent Christian, his works have been {…}
Prokofiev’s “The Gambler” is next up on the Vienna State Opera’s livestreaming service. The performance, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and run through around 10:15 p.m. Audiences from around the world will get an opportunity to experience the opera from the comfort of their respective homes. This season’s new production will be directed {…}
Sergei Prokofiev’s operatic output isn’t all that well-known. While small bits from many of his works have made it into the mainstream via different means (a violin transcription of the March from “The Love for Three Oranges, for example), only one opera has passed the test of time, his adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” The opera, which premiered {…}