Composer

:

Igor Stravinsky

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1951

First Performance

:

Sep 15, 1951

Average_duration

:

139:36

The Rake's Progress is an opera in three acts composed by Igor Stravinsky with a libretto by W.H. Auden and Chester Kallman. The opera was composed between 1948 and 1951 and premiered on September 11, 1951, at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Italy. The plot of the opera follows the story of Tom Rakewell, a young man who inherits a fortune from his father. Tom leaves his fiancée, Anne Trulove, and moves to London to live a life of luxury and pleasure. He is soon seduced by Nick Shadow, a mysterious figure who promises him even greater wealth and success. Tom agrees to a deal with Shadow, who becomes his guide and mentor, but the price of his success is his soul. In Act II, Tom has become a successful businessman and is living a life of luxury. However, he is unhappy and begins to question his choices. He falls in love with Baba the Turk, a bearded lady, but their relationship is doomed. Shadow reveals to Tom that he has squandered his fortune and that he must marry a wealthy woman to regain his wealth. In Act III, Tom has lost everything and is in debt. He is imprisoned for his debts and is visited by Anne, who still loves him. Shadow offers to help Tom escape, but in return, he must sign a contract that will give Shadow his soul. Tom agrees and is taken to a madhouse, where he is visited by Anne. He dies in her arms, and Shadow claims his soul. The Rake's Progress is characterized by Stravinsky's use of neoclassical music, which combines elements of classical music with modernist techniques. The opera features a variety of musical styles, including arias, duets, and choruses, and is known for its intricate vocal writing and complex orchestration. The opera is divided into three movements, each of which represents a different stage in Tom's life. The first movement is set in the countryside, the second in London, and the third in a madhouse. The opera is also notable for its use of symbolism, with characters and objects representing abstract concepts such as greed, temptation, and redemption. Overall, The Rake's Progress is a powerful and thought-provoking opera that explores the dangers of greed and the consequences of making deals with the devil. Its complex music and intricate plot make it a masterpiece of 20th-century opera.

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