Esther

opera by Weisgall

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July 16, 2026

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The opera Esther (1993) is one of ten operas by Czech-born American composer Hugo Weisgall. Weisgall's operas are noted for their literary quality, psychological drama, and distinctive vocal style. He often employed 12-tone composition, an atonal musical style, in his later works.1

The opera is based on the biblical Book of Esther, which tells the story of how the Jewish queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai saved the Jewish people from annihilation in the Persian Empire. The book is read during the Jewish festival of Purim, which commemorates this deliverance. The Book of Esther is unique in the Hebrew Bible for its secular nature, as the name of God is not mentioned.23

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Hugo Weisgall
…music; his last completed opera, Esther (1993), was widely acclaimed. By the time of his sudden death following a fall in 1997, Weisgall had won numerous prestigious awards—including three Guggenheim fellowships—for his musical activities and accomplishments.
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…music; his last completed opera, Esther (1993), was widely acclaimed. By the time of his sudden death following a fall in 1997, Weisgall had won numerous prestigious awards—including three Guggenheim fellowships—for his musical activities and accomplishments.
Read More