Sophie's Choice (opera)

Sophie's Choice is an opera composed by Nicholas Maw, with a libretto by the composer based on William Styron's 1979 novel of the same name. The opera tells the story of Sophie Zawistowska, a Polish Catholic survivor of Auschwitz, who is haunted by the "choice" she was forced to make upon arrival at the concentration camp: to choose which of her two children would live and which would die. The narrative unfolds through flashbacks and interactions with the aspiring writer Stingo and her unstable lover Nathan Landau in 1947 Brooklyn.

The opera was commissioned by the BBC and premiered at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London on December 7, 2006. Directed by Trevor Nunn and conducted by Simon Rattle, the original cast included Angelika Kirchschlager as Sophie, Dale Duesing as Nathan, and Gordon Gietz as Stingo.

Maw's score is characterized by its complex orchestration and demanding vocal writing. The music aims to reflect the psychological turmoil and emotional intensity of the characters and the historical context of the Holocaust. The opera employs a variety of musical styles, including lyrical passages, dramatic outbursts, and moments of stark dissonance.

Sophie's Choice is a substantial work, often performed with intermissions due to its length and the emotional weight of the subject matter. It has been praised for its ambition and Maw's commitment to conveying the novel's complex themes. However, it has also faced criticism for the perceived difficulty of translating Styron's introspective prose into operatic form and for the graphic depiction of the Holocaust. Subsequent productions have been mounted, including performances in Vienna and Washington D.C., contributing to its ongoing reception and critical evaluation.