Composer

:

William Walton

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1965 - 1967

Average_duration

:

51:42

The Bear is a one-act opera composed by William Walton in 1967. The libretto was written by Paul Dehn, based on a play by Anton Chekhov. The opera premiered on April 3, 1967, at the Aldeburgh Festival in England. The plot of The Bear revolves around the characters of Elena Ivanovna Popova, a young widow, and Grigory Stepanovich Smirnov, a landowner. Elena is mourning the death of her husband and has isolated herself from society. Smirnov arrives at her estate to collect a debt owed to him by Elena's late husband. The two characters initially clash, but as the opera progresses, they begin to develop feelings for each other. The opera is divided into three movements. The first movement introduces the characters and their situation. The second movement is the confrontation between Elena and Smirnov, where they argue and insult each other. The third movement is the resolution, where the two characters confess their love for each other. The music of The Bear is characterized by Walton's use of Russian folk melodies and rhythms. The opera is scored for a small orchestra, with a prominent role for the piano. The vocal writing is also notable, with Walton using a range of vocal techniques to convey the emotions of the characters. Overall, The Bear is a short but powerful opera that explores themes of love, loss, and redemption. Its premiere at the Aldeburgh Festival was well-received, and the opera has since been performed in various productions around the world.

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