Lolita is a two‑act opera composed by Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin. The work, set to a Russian‑language libretto written by Shchedrin himself, is based on Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel Lol Lita. It was composed in 1992 and premiered on 14 December 1994 at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm. The premiere production employed a Swedish translation of Shchedrin’s libretto and was staged by Ann‑Margret Petterson under the musical direction of cellist‑conductor Mstislav Rostropovich.
The opera is performed in Russian, typically accompanied by synchronized English supertitles for non‑Russian‑speaking audiences. Its duration is generally under three hours, and productions are often designated for audiences aged 18 and over due to the novel’s mature themes.
Composition and libretto
- Composer: Rodion Shchedrin
- Librettist: Rodion Shchedrin (originally in Russian)
- Based on: Lolita (novel, 1955) by Vladimir Nabokov
- Language of the libretto: Russian (premiere presented in Swedish translation)
Premiere and early productions
- Date: 14 December 1994
- Venue: Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stage director: Ann‑Margret Petterson
- Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich
Performance history
Following the Stockholm premiere, the opera has been staged at major houses including the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, where performances are presented in Russian with English supertitles and marked for adult audiences [2]. A revised, slightly abridged version has also been performed at the Estates Theatre in Prague, offering a condensed presentation lasting under three hours [3].
Context within Shchedrin’s oeuvre
Lolita is Shchedrin’s fourth stage work derived from Russian literary sources. Previous works include a ballet based on Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina (1972), an opera on Nikolai Gogol’s Dead Souls (1976), and a ballet on Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull (1979).
Reception
Critical response has highlighted the opera’s intense musical language and its faithful yet distinct treatment of Nabokov’s controversial source material. Specific assessments vary by production and are beyond the scope of this factual overview.
References
- Wikipedia contributors, “Lolita (opera),” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita_(opera) (accessed 20 May 2026).
- Mariinsky Theatre, “Lolita,” https://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/repertoire/opera/lolita (accessed 20 May 2026).
- Prague Opera Tickets, “Lolita – Opera by R. Shchedrin,” https://pragueoperatickets.com/opera-all-performances/lolita-estates-theatre-prague?p=33&l=2&id=2112 (accessed 20 May 2026).
