Sonya's Story
Sonya's Story (Russian: История Сони) is an opera by the British composer Neal Thornton to a libretto based on the original Russian text of Anton Chekhov's 1899 play Uncle Vanya. The libretto reproduces passages from Uncle Vanya in English translation with additional spoken text by Neal Thornton. Sonya's Story premiered on 7 August 2010 at the Riverside Studios in Londonto celebrate Chekhov's 150th anniversary. The production, part of the Tête à Tête festival was directed by Sally Burgess and designed by Charles Phu.[1]
Set in late 19th century Russia, Sonya’s Story is a musical psycho-drama portraying Sonya's responses to her life crises and the limitations presented by her social and personal circumstances. It is the first opera adapted from Uncle Vanya.
Roles
| Role | Voice Type | Premiere cast, 7 August 2010, London (Conductor: Lionel Friend) |
|---|---|---|
| Sofya Alexandrovna Serebryakov (Sonya), Professor Serebryakov's daughter from his first marriage | (mezzo-soprano) | Caryl Hughes |
| Ivan Petrovitch Voynitsky (Uncle Vanya), Sonya's uncle, the title character of Chekhov's play Uncle Vanya | (baritone) | Cozmin Sime |
| Mikhail Lvovich Astrov (Dr. Astrov), a country doctor | (baritone) | Cozmin Sime |
| Yelena Andreyevna Serebryakov (Yelena), Professor Serebryakov's second wife (actress/dancer) | Ilana Gorban |
References
- Duchen, Jessica (24 August 2010). "Review: Sonya’s Story, Riverside Studios, London". The Independent
External links
- Official website of Sonya's Story
- Burgess, Sally (30 July 2010). "Sally's story: from singing actress to Chekhovian opera director". The Independent