Shostakovich, Dmitri

Katerina Ismailova (1955-63)

Duration: 156 minutes
Opera in 4 Acts

Libretto by Aleksandr Preis and the composer, based on a short story by Nikolai Leskov.

Scoring
3S,A,9T,2Bar,highB,8B-chorus 3(II=picc,III=picc,afl).3(III=corA).4(IV=Ebcl).3(III=dbn)-4.3.3.1-timp.perc:tgl/wdbl/tamb/SD/BD/cym/tam-t/glsp/xyl-cel-2hp-strings stage band; 4crt.2tpt.6hn(2S,2A,2bar).2tuba This work is represented by Boosey & Hawkes in the UK, British Commonwealth (excluding Canada), Republic of Ireland, mainland China, Korea and Taiwan.
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the UK, the countries of the Commonwealth (excluding Canada), Republic of Ireland, mainland China, Korea and Taiwan.

World Premiere
1/8/1963
Stanislavsky & Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre, Moscow
Lev Mikhailov, director
Conductor: Gennadi Provitorov

Repertoire Note
‘Katerina Ismailova’ is the alternative name of Shostakovich’s opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District op.29. As op.114, the work is a revision of the original opera, with two new entr’actes, a major revision to Act 1 Scene 3, and smaller changes elsewhere. In his lifetime, Shostakovich gave it out that he preferred the piece to be performed in this later revision. Nowadays it is usually played in the original version (op.29) which itself poses problems of alternative readings as the composer was already busy revising the piece at the time of its first performances in the 1930s.

Note by Gerard McBurney

Moods
Dramatic

Subjects
Ethics, Relationships, Society, Literary

Recommended Recording
Galina Vishnevskaya/Nicolai Gedda/Dimiter Petkov/Ambrosian Opera Chorus
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Mstislav Rostropovich
EMI 7243 5 67776 2 0 (2CD)

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Items on Sale

Katerina Ismailova

(Vocal Score) (Collected Edition 22)

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