The Gambler

opera by Prokofiev

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June 29, 2026

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Sergey Prokofiev's opera, The Gambler, is a brilliant and dynamic adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novella of the same name. Composed between 1915 and 1916, it skillfully blends subtle lyricism, satiric malice, narrative precision, and dramatic impact, continuing the operatic tradition of Modest Mussorgsky.1

Dostoyevsky's novella, written in 1866, is based on his own experiences with gambling and his tumultuous relationship with Appolinariya Suslova. The story delves into the psychology of compulsive gambling and was dictated by Dostoyevsky in a race against time to meet a publisher's deadline.2

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Sergey Prokofiev
Pre-Revolutionary period
…1911–13, he composed in 1915–16 The Gambler, a brilliant and dynamic adaptation of the novella by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Continuing the operatic tradition of Modest Mussorgsky, Prokofiev skillfully combined subtle lyricism, satiric malice, narrative precision, and dramatic impact. During this period, Prokofiev achieved great recognition for his first two piano concerti—the…
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…1911–13, he composed in 1915–16 The Gambler, a brilliant and dynamic adaptation of the novella by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Continuing the operatic tradition of Modest Mussorgsky, Prokofiev skillfully combined subtle lyricism, satiric malice, narrative precision, and dramatic impact. During this period, Prokofiev achieved great recognition for his first two piano concerti—the…
Read More