Prokofiev had decided on this story as an operatic subject in 1914, and the conductor Albert Coates, of the Mariinsky Theatre, encouraged Prokofiev to compose this opera and assured him of a production at that theatre. Prokofiev wrote the opera in piano score between November 1915 and April 1916, and completed the orchestration in January 1917. Vsevolod Meyerhold was engaged as stage director. However, in the wake of the 1917 February Revolution, that production never occurred.
| Original Name | Igroki |
| Librettist | Sergei Prokofiev (Based on the story "The Gambler" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky) |
| Date of composition | 1917 (Wrote between November 1915 and April 1916. Orchestration was achieved in January 1917.) |
| Premiered | 1929, April 29th (Théâtre de la Monnaie) in Brussels, Belgium |
| Type | Opera |
| Catalogue | Op. 24 |
| Spoken language | Russian |
| Instruments |
Orchestra
Voice (Tenor) - Alexei, tutor to the General's family Voice (Soprano) - Polina (Pauline), ward of the General Voice (Bass) - The General Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Blanche, demimondaine Voice (Tenor) - The Marquis Voice (Baritone) - Mr. Astley, an Englishman Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - The Baroness Voice (Bass) - The Baron Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Grandma ("Babulenka"), The General's aunt Voice (Tenor) - Prince Nilsky |
| Arrangements |
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Sergei Prokofiev: "Four Portraits and Denouement", Op. 49
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| Autotranslations beta |
Sergueï Prokofiev: The Gambler, Op. 24 Sergej Sergeevič Prokof'ev: The Gambler, Op. 24 Sergei Sergejewitsch Prokofjew: The Gambler, Op. 24 |