<p>To close out 2025, The Piano Pod brings you a special year-end bonus episode featuring composer and storyteller <strong>Stefania De Kenessey</strong>. Earlier this season, we explored her MICROVIDS project; today, Stefania takes us behind the scenes of another major undertaking: her opera <em>The Bonfire of the Vanities</em>, based on Tom Wolfe’s iconic novel.</p><p>In this conversation, Stefania reflects on the creative risks, structural challenges, and artistic values behind adapting a 700-page book for the operatic stage. She shares insights on distillation, libretti, character reimagining, and the emotional stakes of composing—offering a rare look at how large-scale musical works take shape.</p><p>You’ll hear Stefania discuss:</p><ul><li>Transforming a sprawling novel into a cohesive opera</li><li>The unique demands of crafting a focused, effective libretto</li><li>Reimagining characters and narrative power dynamics</li><li>What music can unveil that prose alone cannot</li><li>Choosing a darker, more pointed ending</li><li>The exhilarating—and sometimes brutal—reality of composing</li></ul><p>ICYMI: Revisit our full episode on <strong>MICROVIDS</strong> in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.com/the-world-of-microvids-%25f0%259f%258e%25b6-composer-stefania-de-kenessey-on-music-poetry-love/"><strong>Season 6, Episode 3</strong></a></p><p>This episode is a thoughtful reminder that music is not only a craft, but a conviction. Stefania’s perspective highlights how storytelling, ethics, and imagination intersect in contemporary composition.</p><p><strong>Thank you for being part of The Piano Pod community this year.</strong> We return on <strong>January 13, 2026,</strong> with a brand-new episode to kick off the new year.</p>