The Canterville Ghost (Knaifel opera)
The Canterville Ghost is an opera by the Russian composer Alexander Knaifel in three acts for 18 singers and chamber orchestra, also in an abridged version for two soloists and chamber orchestra.
The opera was composed in 1965–66 to the libretto by Tatiana Kramarova after the 1887 short story "The Canterville Ghost" by Oscar Wilde. Text Russian. It is dedicated to the composer.
Also: Romantic Scenes from the Opera – in seven scenes with prologue for basso profondo and light soprano with chamber orchestra. Duration: 90 minutes.
Cast, orchestra
Shorter version:- Solo voices: bass, soprano
- Orchestra: flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, contrabassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, timpani, 4 percussion, piano/celesta, organ, 5 strings.
Full version:
- Singers: 6 sopranos, 2 boy sopranos, 4 mezzo-sopranos, alto, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, bass
- Orchestra: flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, contrabassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion, piano/celesta, organ, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass.
Performance history
It was first performed on February 26, 1974, in Leningrad, the House of Composers by the Chamber Orchestra of Conservatoire, conducted by L. Gelgrud.It was performed on March 3 and 4, 1980, in London by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky.