Composer

:

Peter Eötvös

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Average_duration

:

97:18

"Three Sisters" is an opera composed by Peter Eötvös, with a libretto by Claus H. Henneberg, based on Anton Chekhov's play of the same name. The opera was composed in 1996 and premiered on June 2, 1998, at the Lyon Opera House in France. The opera is divided into three acts, each corresponding to one of the three sisters: Olga, Masha, and Irina. The story takes place in a provincial town in Russia, where the sisters live with their brother Andrei and their aging father. The sisters dream of returning to Moscow, where they grew up, but their hopes are constantly dashed by the realities of their lives. The first act focuses on Olga, the eldest sister, who is a schoolteacher. She is frustrated with her job and longs for a more fulfilling life. She is courted by the school principal, but she is not interested in him. Instead, she dreams of a life of intellectual pursuits and cultural activities. The second act focuses on Masha, the middle sister, who is married to a dull and unambitious man. She is in love with Vershinin, a married army officer who is stationed in the town. They have an affair, but their relationship is doomed from the start. The third act focuses on Irina, the youngest sister, who is the most idealistic of the three. She dreams of finding true love and happiness, but her hopes are dashed when she realizes that her suitor, Baron Tuzenbach, is not the man she thought he was. The music of "Three Sisters" is characterized by its use of modernist techniques, such as atonality and dissonance, as well as its incorporation of Russian folk music. The opera is also notable for its use of electronic music, which is used to create atmospheric effects and to underscore the emotional states of the characters. Overall, "Three Sisters" is a powerful and moving opera that captures the essence of Chekhov's play. It is a testament to Eötvös's skill as a composer and to Henneberg's skill as a librettist. The opera has been performed in many countries around the world and continues to be a popular work in the contemporary opera repertoire.

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