Igrok (The Gambler), Op. 24

Composer: Prokofiev, Sergey

Librettist/Text Author: Prokofiev, Sergey

Conductor: Barenboim, Daniel

Orchestra: Berlin Staatskapelle

Chorus: Berlin State Opera Chorus

Alexey: Didyk, Misha

Babulenka: Toczyska, Stefania

Blanche: De La Muela, Silvia

General: Ognovenko, Vladimir

Marquis: Rugamer, Stephan

Mr. Astley: Rud, Viktor

Polina: Opolais, Kristine

Set Designer: Tcherniakov, Dmitri

Costume Designer: Tcherniakov, Dmitri

Costume Designer: Zaitseva, Elena

Lighting Designer: Filshtinsky, Gleb

Stage Director: Tcherniakov, Dmitri

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Venue: Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin

Playing Time: 02:16:10

Catalogue Number: A05016762

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Based on Dostroyevsky's novel of the same name, The Gambler is a dark study of human failings and the corruptive power of money. In this work, everyone gambles: the hero Alexey, the General and even the wealthy aunt Babulenka. Blanche, the Marquis and Polina - who loves Alexey - gamble with their fellow human beings. The results are humiliation, ruin and self-delusion. But when the Staatskapelle Berlin under the world-famous conductor Daniel Barenboim provide the orchestral sound to the full, lustrous voices of Vladimir Ognovenko, Kristine Opolais, Misha Didyk, Stefania Toczyska and their colleagues, there is nothing even remotely dismal about the opera or its production.