The Gambler

Event Dates

In a co-production with his "other" opera house, Berlin's Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Daniel Barenboim conducts Prokofiev's Igrok (The Gambler), directed by Dmitri Tcherniakov.

Based on Dostoevsky's 1866 novella, which was written to a strict deadline to pay off his own gambling debts (as he was addicted to roulette), Prokofiev's opera The Gambler was blighted by the Russian Revolution. Due for production in St Petersburg in 1917, then Leningrad when it was postponed again, it was finally premièred at Brussels' La Monnaie on 29 April 1929.

Set in a European spa town, aptly named Roulettenburg, The Gambler follows the plight of Alexey (Misha Didyk) who loves Pauline (Kristina Opolais), the General's daughter. The General (Vladimir Ognovenko) is just as much a gambling addict as everyone else and, after he losses to the Marquis (Stephan Rügamer), he pins his hopes on his Grandmother Babulenka (Stefania Tocziska) dying, so he will inherit her money.

But she arrives in town and loses all her money at the gaming tables, so the only option is to marry Pauline off to the Marquis. Alexey takes up the challenge and manages to break the bank when he gambles, but Pauline throws his winnings in his face, hysterically. Money really is the root of all evils!

Young Russian Dmitri Tcherniakov has directed and designed The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, A Life for the Tsar and Tristan und Isolde for the Mariinksy Theatre, as well as Boris Godunov for Barenboime's Staatsoper Unter den Linden.

One of the most famous opera companies in the world, La Scala Milan first performed in Piermarini's fantastic opera house in 1778, and all the great Italian opera composers premièred work there - from Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti to Verdi and Puccini. After a three-year, £49 million, refurbishment, La Scala re-opened with a revival of its first-ever opera, Salieri's L'Europa riconosciuta, on 7 December 2004.

Since then, following Riccardo Muti's departure after 19 years as music director, the house has been without an artistic head. In December 2007 Daniel Barenboim started his six-year relationship with La Scala as principal guest conductor, tying in with his post at the Berlin Staatsoper.

Other Dates
19 Jun 2008 (various dates)
28 Jun 2008 (various dates)
24 Jun 2008 (various dates)
26 Jun 2008 (various dates)
30 Jun 2008 (various dates)
21 Jun 2008 (various dates)