• Composition: 1965–7
• First Performance: 3 June 1967. Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh. Monica Sinclair, Popova; John Shaw, Smirnov; Norman Lumsden, Luka. English Chamber Orchestra, James Lockhart conductor.
• Duration: About 48 minutes
• Libretto: By Paul Dehn (1912–76), adapted from Anton Chekhov (1860–1904)
• Dedication: “Dedicated to the memory of Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky”
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C79
• Performing Forces:
• Cast:
Yelina Ivanovna Popova, a widow - mezzo-soprano
Grigory Stephanovich Smirnov, a landowner - baritone
Luka, servant to Popova - bass
2 walk-on speaking roles, both men
• Orchestral Instrumentation: Flute (doubling piccolo), oboe (doubling English horn), clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), bassoon – horn, trumpet, trombone – timpani, 2 percussion (side drum, tenor drum, bass drum, cassa chiara, triangle, tambourine, cymbals, suspended cymbal, gong, jingles, 3 blocks, woodblock, whip, rattle, xylophone, vibraphone, tubular bells in F-sharp and C, crotales, bongos) – harp – piano – string quintet (1.1.1.1.1) or string orchestra
• Manuscript: Serge Koussevitzky Foundation Collection. Library of Congress, Washington D.C. Full score. Dated ‘30.4.67, Forio d’Ischia’. Also 11 pages of revisions in full score.
Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 604. Autograph sketches. 37 pages.
• Publication: Oxford University Press, 1968. Score and parts are available on hire. Material available for purchase:
| The Bear | ||||
| 1977 | Study score | ISBN 019 338440X | Buy from SheetMusicPlus.com | |
| 1968 | Vocal score, with Piano reduction by Roy Douglas |
ISBN 019 3384418 | ||
| 1967 | Libretto | ISBN 019 3384426 | Buy from SheetMusicPlus.com | |
| William Walton Edition, Vol. 2, ed. Stuart Hutchinson |
Critical edition (full score) | ISBN 019 3384434 |
• Recordings:
| Solo Voices | Orchestra | Conductor | Year | Compact Disc | Timing |
| Monica Sinclair, Popova John Shaw, Smirnov Norman Lumsden, Luka |
English Chamber Orchestra | James Lockhart | 1967 | EMI Classics 5 73998 2 | 48’44” |
| Della Jones, Popova Alan Opie, Smirnov John Shirley-Quirk, Luka |
Northern Sinfonia | Richard Hickox | 1993 | Chandos CHAN 9245 | 53’18”
|