What Men Live By (opera)
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
What Men Live By (Čím člověk žije in Czech) is an opera in one act by Bohuslav Martinů to an English[1] libretto by the composer, based on the story by Leo Tolstoy. It was composed in 1951-1952 when the composer was living in the U.S.A.[1]
Performance history
The opera was premiered as a television broadcast in New York in May 1953.[1] The first staged performance took place on 31 July 1954 in Interlochen, Michigan, by the National Music Camp company.[2]
Roles
| Role[2] | Voice type[2] | Premiere Cast 31 July 1954 (Conductor: ) |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Avdeitch, a cobbler | baritone | |
| An old peasant pilgrim | bass | |
| Stepanitch, an old soldier | bass | |
| A woman with a child | soprano | |
| An old woman | contralto | |
| A boy | spoken role | |
| Speaker (narrator) | tenor |
Instrumentation
The orchestral score requires 1 flute, 2 oboes, 3 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, timpani, percussion (various instruments), piano and strings (6 violins I, 6 violins II, 4 violas, 3 violoncellos, 2 double basses). Apart from the vocal soloists, a small chorus (or a vocal quartet or quintet) is also required.[2]
References
- Notes
