What Price Confidence

Libretto by Ernst Krenek

Ilana Davidson (soprano), Susan Narucki (soprano),
Richard Clement (tenor), Christopheren Nomura (baritone),
Linda Hall (piano)

•What Price Confidence is a chamber opera written by Ernst Krenek. He composed it in 1945 for four singers from the Metropolitan Opera who wanted an adventurous work that could be performed with piano in concert settings. He wanted to see if a soloist could perform an opera without being dependent on an orchestra, hence the title ‘What Price Confidence’ but also present something completely new that went beyond conventional performances.

•The work has never been recorded before so Phoenix are proud to present this little known chamber work in its world premiere recording.


•“…there is wit in Krenek's use of overly industrious counterpoint, intentionally lugubrious lyricism and other touches… a fascinating little opera” The New York Times on a previous performance