The Letter (opera)

The Letter is an opera in one act by composer Kurt Weill with a libretto by Caspar Neher. It is based on the short story of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham, which was later adapted into a play and a film of the same title.

The opera premiered on 25 June 1951 in a German translation in Darmstadt, Germany. The English language premiere was in 1954 at the BBC.

The Letter is a dramatic work focusing on the themes of betrayal, deception, and colonialism. The story revolves around Leslie Crosbie, the wife of a rubber plantation owner in British Malaya, who claims to have killed a male acquaintance in self-defense. As her lawyer investigates, the truth unfolds, revealing a more complicated and compromising situation involving a love affair and blackmail. The opera explores the psychological complexities of Leslie and the moral compromises made within the context of colonial society. Weill's score blends elements of opera, musical theatre, and jazz, reflecting the diverse cultural influences present in the setting of the story.