Composer

:

Rodion Shchedrin

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1961

"Not Love Alone" is an opera composed by Rodion Shchedrin in 1991. The plot revolves around the life of a young woman named Katerina Izmailova, who is married to a wealthy merchant named Zinovy. However, Katerina is unhappy in her marriage and falls in love with Sergei, one of Zinovy's workers. The two begin an affair, and when Zinovy discovers their relationship, he beats Sergei and sends him away. Katerina, desperate to be with Sergei, poisons Zinovy and runs away with her lover. However, their happiness is short-lived as Sergei soon becomes unfaithful and abusive towards Katerina. In the end, Katerina kills Sergei and is sent to prison. The opera premiered on December 28, 1991, at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. It consists of four acts and is sung in Russian. The music is characterized by Shchedrin's use of dissonant harmonies and unconventional orchestration, which creates a tense and dramatic atmosphere throughout the opera. The vocal parts are also challenging, requiring the singers to navigate complex melodic lines and demanding vocal ranges. "Not Love Alone" is often considered a modern retelling of Nikolai Leskov's novella "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District." However, Shchedrin's opera diverges from the original story in several ways, including the addition of a prologue and epilogue that frame the narrative as a dream sequence. The opera also emphasizes the psychological turmoil of the characters, particularly Katerina, who is portrayed as a sympathetic figure trapped in a loveless marriage. Overall, "Not Love Alone" is a powerful and emotionally charged opera that explores themes of love, betrayal, and revenge. Its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre was met with critical acclaim, and it has since become a staple of the modern opera repertoire.

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