War and Peace

opera by Prokofiev

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July 23, 2026

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The opera War and Peace by Sergey Prokofiev is an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's epic novel of the same name. Prokofiev was fascinated by the parallels between Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812 and the contemporary situation during World War II. The opera is a massive work, featuring 13 scenes and over 60 characters, blending epic historical narrative with intimate lyrical moments that explore the personal destinies of its main characters.1

Tolstoy's novel, War and Peace, is a panoramic study of early 19th-century Russian society, focusing on the interactions between aristocratic families during the Napoleonic Wars. It is renowned for its realistic detail and psychological analysis, considered a masterpiece of Russian literature and one of the world's longest novels. The story follows characters like Pierre Bezukhov and Andrey Bolkonsky through societal events and the turmoil of war, culminating in Napoleon's invasion of Russia.23

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Sergey Prokofiev
Soviet period of Sergey Prokofiev
…based on Leo Tolstoy’s novel War and Peace. He was fascinated by the parallels between 1812, when Russia crushed Napoleon’s invasion, and the then-current situation. The first version of the opera was completed by the summer of 1942, but subsequently the work was fundamentally revised, a task that occupied more…
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…based on Leo Tolstoy’s novel War and Peace. He was fascinated by the parallels between 1812, when Russia crushed Napoleon’s invasion, and the then-current situation. The first version of the opera was completed by the summer of 1942, but subsequently the work was fundamentally revised, a task that occupied more…
Read More

opera
Russian opera
…most ambitious is the massive War and Peace (1946; Voyna i mir, libretto by the composer and Mendelson), which has been successfully revived since the late 20th century.
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…most ambitious is the massive War and Peace (1946; Voyna i mir, libretto by the composer and Mendelson), which has been successfully revived since the late 20th century.
Read More