This version of Fedora - Four Excerpts from the Opera has reduced instrumentation from what was commissioned by Hokkaido Shiraishi HS Wind Orchestra in 2001. It consists of four parts including Prelude, Intermezzo (Act I) and Allegro vivo, the finale (Act II). Instead of four separate movements, they are collected seamlessly. The construction of the piece is almost the same as the original but the finale was arranged freely. Princess Fedora of St. Petersburg is pursuing revenge for her murdered fiancee. She confronts Loris and discovers it was her fiancee who fired first at Loris, and he shot back in self-defense. She eventually falls in love with Loris. Fedora learns that information she shared causes the death of Loris'brother. Fedora then poisons herself. Great resonance is needed throughout the work. From pianissimo to fortissimo, strive for a deeply emotional performance.
(Eiji Suzuki)
