The Canterville Ghost (Knaifel opera)

Alexander Knaifel in Sortavala, August 1982
To be distinguished from the Russian rock-opera by Valentin Dubovskoy

The Canterville Ghost (also The Ghost of Canterville, Russian: Кантервильское привидение – Kantervíl’skoye privedénie, however usually spelt as Кентервильское привидение – Kentervíl’skoye prividénie; French: Le fantôme de Canterville, German: Das Gespenst von Canterville), an opera by the Russian composer Alexander Knaifel (Russian: Кнайфель) in three acts for 18 singers and chamber orchestra, also in an abridged version for two soloists and chamber orchestra.[1]

Composed in 1965–66 to the libretto by Tatiana Kramarova after "The Canterville Ghost" by Oscar Wilde. Text Russian (translated into English by V. Paperno. Dedicated to Rein Laul.

Also: Romantic Scenes from the Opera – in seven scenes with prologue for basso profondo and light soprano with chamber orchestra (shorter version). Duration: 90 minutes.

Cast, Orchestra

Shorter version:

  • Solo Voices: bass, soprano
  • Orchestra: flute, oboe, 2 clarinets (piccolo and bass), contrabassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, timpani, 4 percussion (tubular bells, glockenspiel, xylophone, flexatone), piano/celesta, organ (may be on tape), 5 strings (1.1.1.1.1).

The score is printed by Sovetsky Kompozitor, Leningrad 1977

Full version:

  • Singers: 6 sopranos, 2 boy sopranos, 4 mezzo-sopranos, alto, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, bass
  • Orchestra: flute, oboe, 2 clarinets (piccolo and bass), contrabassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion (5 players, instruments include tubular bells, glockenspiel, xylophone and flexatone), piano/celesta, organ (may be on tape), 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass.

Premiere

Recordings

  • The Canterville Ghost - Operatic scenes inspired by Oscar Wilde (shorter version, 50 minutes) Recorded 1990. The Moscow Theater "Forum" Orchestra, Stanislav Suleymanov (bass), Tatiana Monogarova (soprano), Alexander Levental (organ), conductor Michail Jurowski. Issued on CD: Harmonia Mundi Saison Russe / Le Chant du monde 1991; reissued Brilliant Classics 2012.

References

  1. ↑ Underground music from the former USSR - Page 177 1997 "It was the opera The Canterville Ghost after Oscar Wilde (there is also its abridged version for two soloists and chamber orchestra). This opera still promising to become truly popular some day abounds in humor and youthful ardor, telling the "
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