| The Bear | |
|---|---|
| Opera by William Walton | |
| Librettist | Paul Dehn and William Walton |
| Language | English |
| Based on | Play by Anton Chekhov |
| Premiere | 3 June 1967 |
The Bear is the second of the two operas by William Walton, described in publication as an "Extravaganza in One Act". The libretto was written by Paul Dehn and Walton,[1] based on the play of the same title by Anton Chekhov (which is also sometimes translated into English as The Boor).
Walton received a commission from the Koussevitzsky Foundation in 1958, and he dedicated the opera "to the memory of Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky". He began composing in 1965 when the Aldeburgh Festival in England requested an opera from him.[1] The Bear was first performed at the Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh on 3 June 1967.
The opera is regarded as having "enjoyed more success and popularity than its larger-scale predecessor, Troilus and Cressida [......] because its witty parodies are in the manner of [Walton's 1922] Facade"[2] and the librettists' ability "to emulate Chekhov's caricatures of the three main characters" are also successful.[3]