Gogol

Opera misteria in three acts with prologue and epilogue

Gogol

for stage, voices, chorus, dancers, and orchestra

Gogol is Lera Auerbach’s opera misteria in three acts with prologue and epilogue, inspired by the inner world, grotesque imagination, spiritual torment, and visionary absurdity of Nikolai Gogol.

Year 2010
Duration 135′
Libretto Lera
Auerbach
Publisher Boosey & Hawkes
/ Sikorski
Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski Score and Rental Material Abbreviations PDF

Commission

Commissioned by Theater an der Wien. With the support of the Vienna Mozart Year 2006 and with the patronage of Viacheslav Sheianov, in honor of Raisa Sheianova.

World Premiere

Premiered on 15 November 2011 at Theater an der Wien. Vladimir Fedoseyev conducted the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien in a production by Christine Mielitz.

Dramaturgy

Not a conventional biography, but a phantasmagorical descent into Gogol’s divided inner world. The opera moves through grotesque comedy, spiritual terror, hallucination, judgment, and self-confrontation.

Structure

Prologue, three acts, seven scenes, and epilogue.

  • Prologue

  • Act I

    • Overture — Scene 1: Lullaby for the Moon
    • Scene 2: In Thy Image
    • Scene 3: Do Not Rest in Peace

  • Act II

    • Scene 4: The Nymph

  • Act III

    • Scene 5: Running from Oneself
    • Scene 6: Market of Brides
    • Scene 7: Gogol’s Trial

  • Epilogue

Work Information

Full Title
Gogol. Opera misteria in 3 acts with prologue and epilogue
Year
2010
Duration
135′
Libretto
Lera Auerbach, in Russian
Instrumentation
2(=picc, afl).1(=corA).2(=bcl).asax.2(=dbn)-2.2.2(btrbn).1-timp-perc: crot/tpl.bl/flex/BD/tam-t/t.bells/vibr/marimba-hp/cel/pft-str — children choir, mixed choir.
Abbreviations PDF
Expanded Forces
Solo voices, children’s choir, mixed choir, dancers, and orchestra.
Publisher
Published by Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski . Score and rental materials are available through Zinfonia .

Dramaturgical Note

Gogol enters the writer’s last spiritual and psychological crisis rather than presenting a linear life story. Figures from Gogol’s imagination become theatrical presences: doubles, demons, brides, judges, grotesque crowds, and apparitions. The stage becomes an interior landscape in which comedy and terror are inseparable.

The score treats voice, chorus, orchestral color, and stage gesture as extensions of a divided consciousness. Its world is theatrical, Russian, hallucinatory, and severe: a drama of artistic imagination under judgment.

Dramatis Personae

  • Nikolai GogolDramatic baritone
  • BesDramatic tenor
  • Poshlust / WitchDramatic soprano
  • DeathDramatic contralto
  • Maria / Gogol’s Mother / Bride No. 1Full lyric soprano
  • NikolkaBoy soprano
  • Priest / Herr Doktor / Voice of VijDramatic basso profondo
  • Bride No. 2 / Voice of NymphDramatic coloratura soprano
  • Prosecutor / AdvocateBass-baritone / falsetto
  • JudgeCountertenor
  • Bride No. 3Contralto
  • Chorus and DancersObservers, Noses, Gogol Doubles, Mourners, Brides, Children; Violinist, Nymph, Gogol’s demons, Mermaids, Brides, and Noses.

World Premiere

15 Nov
2011

Vienna Premiere Cast & Creative Team

  • Martin Winkler — Gogol
  • Otto Katzameier — Gogol
  • Ladislav Elgr — Bes
  • Natalia Ushakova — Poshlust
  • Stella Grigorian — Death
  • Tatiana Plotnikova — Maria
  • Sebastian Schaffer — Nikolka
  • Deyan Vatchkov — Priest
  • Anna Gorbachyova — Bride No. 2
  • Maria Peniaz — Nymph
  • Falko Hönisch — Prosecutor
  • Tim Severloh — Judge
  • Iwona Sakowicz — Bride No. 3
  • Christine Mielitz — Director
  • Johannes Leiacker — Stage Designer
  • Arila Siegert — Choreographer
  • Kaspar Glarner — Costumes
  • Vladimir Fedoseyev — Conductor
  • ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien
  • Arnold Schoenberg Chor
  • Grazer Kapellknaben
  • Mozartknabenchor Wien

Online Materials

  • Video / Audio

    Educational listening access to the embedded performance preview on this page.

    Vimeo · Embedded Preview
  • Score / Materials
    Score and Rental Material

    Rental-material listing for the opera.

    Zinfonia
  • Publisher
    Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski Work Page

    Official publisher information for Gogol.

    Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski
  • Reference
    ORF Archive

    Archive reference related to the premiere forces.

    ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien
  • Internal Link
    Lera Auerbach Catalogue

    Explore more works by Lera Auerbach in the official composition catalogue.

    LeraAuerbach.com
  • Reference
    Abbreviations PDF

    Publisher guide to Boosey-style instrumentation abbreviations.

    Boosey & Hawkes
Gogol opera publisher Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski

Publisher and Materials

Published by Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski. Score and rental materials are available through the official publisher and rental-material links.

Auerbach Studio
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