What Price Confidence?

Chamber Opera by Ernst Krenek
New York Premiere on September 21, 2000;
Theatre of the Riverside Church
Preview performance on September 18, 2000; the Peter B. Lewis Theatre, Guggenheim Museum
with Elysium – between two continents
Italian Premiere on May 9, 2021;
Teatro dell‘Opera di Roma – Teatro Nazionale, Rome / Italy

Press:
New York Times: “This fascinating little opera enjoyed an impressive performance.”

Il Giornale d’Italia: “A large part of the success of this piece must be attributed to the direction of Gregorij H. von Leïtis, as well as the wonderful song texts by outstanding authors and the remarkable interpreters of this work, especially the excellent playing of the young German pianist Fritz Schwinghammer.”

Corriere della Sera: “Decisive for conveying the spirit of this chamber opera was the direction of Gregorij von Leïtis, with its interchange of subtle hints, gestures, and thought processes between the individual persons of the two performing couples, who are desperately trying to find, or to exchange, proofs of trust. The dramaturgy is close to the absurd, though anchored in everyday life. Marital love follows the misfortune of a bounced check for a gambling debt.”