Composer

:

Rodion Shchedrin

Genre

:

Opera

First Performance

:

July, 2013

Average_duration

:

01:59:11

The Left-Hander (Levsha) is an opera composed by Rodion Shchedrin in 1991. The libretto was written by the composer's wife, Maya Plisetskaya, who was a famous ballerina. The opera is based on a short story by Nikolai Leskov, which tells the story of a left-handed craftsman who is able to create beautiful objects with his left hand, but is unable to use his right hand for anything other than violence. The opera premiered on November 23, 1993, at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, with Plisetskaya herself in the role of the Queen. The production was directed by Yuri Lyubimov, with sets and costumes by Valery Leventhal. The opera is divided into two acts, each with three scenes. The first act takes place in a small Russian village, where the left-handed craftsman, Danila, lives with his wife and children. Danila is a skilled craftsman, but he is also feared by the villagers because of his violent outbursts. The Queen, who is passing through the village, hears about Danila's skill and invites him to come to the palace to create a gift for her husband, the King. In the second act, Danila travels to the palace, where he is treated as a curiosity by the courtiers. The King is pleased with the gift that Danila creates, but the Queen becomes infatuated with him and tries to seduce him. Danila resists her advances, but the Queen accuses him of trying to rape her. Danila is imprisoned and sentenced to death, but he is able to escape with the help of his left hand, which he uses to pick the lock on his cell. The music of The Left-Hander is characterized by its use of folk melodies and rhythms, as well as its incorporation of elements of Russian Orthodox chant. The opera also features a number of virtuosic instrumental solos, including a trumpet solo in the first act and a violin solo in the second act. Overall, The Left-Hander is a powerful and thought-provoking opera that explores themes of creativity, violence, and the struggle for individuality in a repressive society. Its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre was a major event in the world of opera, and it has since been performed in theaters around the world.

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