Anna Karenina (Carlson)

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Anna Karenina is an opera in two acts by American composer David Carlson, [1] based on the 1877 novel Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, commissioned by Florida Grand Opera to celebrate the 2007 opening of the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, [1] co-commissioned by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. The libretto is by British director Colin Graham, originally contemplated for Benjamin Britten's opera commissioned by the Bolshoi Theatre (the project was cancelled by the British after the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia). [2] Graham was to have directed the original production; after his death only weeks before the opera's opening night, [1] the direction was taken over by Mark Streshinsky. The opera is in two acts with a prologue and an epilogue, lasting just over two hours.

Contents

The composer added a new scene to the score for the West Coast premiere at the Opera San José in 2010. [3]

Orchestration

The opera exists in two orchestral versions. The original calls for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes (both doubling English horn), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons (#2 doubling on contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, three percussionists, harp, celesta, and strings, with off-stage and recorded sounds.

The new version, created for Opera San José in California, re-scored by conductor Bryan Nies, is scored for 2 flutes (#2 doubling on piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, two percussionists, harp, synthesizer/celesta, and strings.

Recordings

The opera was recorded during the performances by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra performing, led by Stewart Robertson, and was released on the Signum Classics label.

Performance history and roles

Role Voice type Florida Grand Opera
April 2007
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
June 2007
Opera San José
September 2010
Conductor Stewart Robertson Stewart RobertsonStewart Robertson & Bryan Nies
Stage director Colin Graham & Mark StreshinskyColin Graham & Mark StreshinskyBrad Dalton
Set designer Neil Patel Neil PatelSteven C. Kemp
Costume designer Robert PerdziolaRobert PerdziolaElizabeth Poindexter
Lighting designer Mark McCullough Mark McCulloughKent Dorsey
Anna Karenina soprano Kelly Kaduce Kelly KaduceJasmina Halimic & Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste
Alexei Karenin bass-baritone Christian van HornChristian van HornKirk Eichelberger & Isaiah Musik-Ayala
Alexei Vronsky baritone Robert GierlachRobert GierlachKrassen Karagiozov & Torlef Borsting
Kittysoprano Sarah Coburn Sarah CoburnKhori Dastoor
Levin tenor Brandon Jovanovich Brandon JovanovichMichael Dailey & Alexander Boyer
Dolly mezzo-soprano Christine Abraham Christine AbrahamBetany Coffland & Tori Grayum
Agafiamezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias Rosalind EliasHeather McFadden
Lydiamezzo-soprano Dorothy Byrne Dorothy ByrneKindra Scharich
StivatenorWilliam JoynerWilliam JoynerChristopher Bengochea & Michael Mendelsohn
Betsymezzo-sopranoJosepha GayerJosepha GayerMegan Stetson
Prince YashvinbaritoneCorey CriderNicolas PallesenPaul Murray

The opera is published by Carl Fischer Music, New York.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Schweitzer, Vivien (30 April 2007). "New York Times Opera Review: Anna Karenina". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  2. Michael Vaughn (11 September 2010). "The Opera Critic Reviews". Anna Karenina has the sweep of an epic film. The Opera Critic. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  3. "Opera San José – Press Room". Press Release. Opera San José. 14 July 2010. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.