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Going into this opera experience, I had zero previous knowledge of the opera The Rake’s Progress. I had some preconceived notions about what the music might be like, knowing that Igor Stravinsky was the composer. His other provocative works, like Rite of Spring, Petroushka, and Firebird Suite, gave the expectation of an intense musical score with rhythmic drive and emotional nuance. And it was definitely that! The orchestra was spectacular under the direction of Steven White. A special “shout out” to the brass moments throughout the opera: trumpet solos, impressive French horn passages, and difficult, repetitive rhythmic brass moments. The dark introduction in the lower strings that begins the final ...

Having witnessed the overwhelming devastation caused by the second world war, exiled Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, expat British poet W.H. Auden, along with the American poet Chester Kallmann constructed their 1951 opera The Rake’s Progress as a parable of humankind’s misguided struggle with the desire for happiness. When the curtain rises, we find Tom Rakewell in a sort of Eden with the ruler of his heart, Anne Truelove. Anne’s father, however, insists that his daughter cannot be had for free but must be earned with hard work. Rejecting this idea, young Tom sets his hope on trusting his will and the grace of fortune to give him whatev...

by Principal Guest Conductor, Steven White The readily apparent aptness of the music for the text (and vice versa) in Igor Stravinsky and W. H. Auden’s The Rake’s Progress is one of the great wonders of 20th-century operatic accomplishment. It is a creative collaboration that should be honored with the reverential tones with which we celebrate Mozart and Da Ponte, Verdi and Boito, Strauss and Hofmannsthal. Not only did they create the story together, but they united their respective languages of word and music in an uncommonly common purpose. Auden’s craft and rhetorical demeanor is not far distant from that of the Enlightenment poet Alexander Pope—always clear, a...

Tom Rakewell, a young and penniless country gentleman, is in love with Anne Trulove, but her father, the squire, doubts Tom’s strength of character. His suspicions are confirmed when Tom refuses his offer of steady employment in the city. Tom is content to put his trust in Fortune. A stranger, who announces himself as Nick Shadow, suddenly arrives with the news that an unknown uncle of Tom’s has died and left him a fortune. Tom must go at once to London to wind up his uncle’s estate and Shadow offers himself as Tom’s servant and guide through the intricacies of London life. The question of his salary c...

Designing for Stravinsky's satirical opera wasn't David Hockney's first time exploring "The Rake's Progress." Inspired by the 1735 engravings of William Hogarth, Hockney created a semiautobiographical series of images entitled "A Rake's Progress" in 1961.

We are thrilled to continue the vibrant collaboration between Wicked Raven Productions and Joslyn Castle and Gardens, fostering local art and strengthening community bonds. Our latest endeavor, CONTEMPORARY COLOR & PATTERN, draws inspiration from Opera Omaha’s upcoming production of The Rake's Progress. This initiative not only supports and showcases local talent but also enriches the cultural tapestry of our community through innovative and engaging artistic expressions. We invite you to join us in celebrating this unique fusion of visual and performing arts. Call for Artists: "Contemporary Color & Pattern" Dates: January 17th through February 11th Location: Carriage House Gallery, Joslyn Castle and Gardens About the Exhibition We in...