El Niño (oratorio)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
El Niño is an opera-oratorio composed by the American composer John Adams.
It was composed during 1999 and 2000 and premiered at Paris' Théatre du Châtelet on December 15, 2000 and has been performed on a number of occasions since, and has been broadcast on BBC television.
Described by Adams as a "nativity oratorio", the piece is designed to be performed equally well in both concert and stage settings, and uses texts from the King James Bible, Wakefield Mystery Plays and poems by Mexican poet Rosario Castellanos as well as Adams and librettist Peter Sellars. The work is scored for soprano, mezzo-soprano and baritone soloists, a trio of counter-tenors and orchestra
The work retells the Christmas story, with the first half of focusing on Mary's thoughts before the birth and the second half on the aftermath of the birth in the stable in Bethlehem, Herod's slaughter of the Holy Innocents and the early life of Jesus.
 |
This article about an opera or opera-related subject is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
