Paradise Lost (Whitacre opera)

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Paradise Lost is an English-language opera written and composed by Eric Whitacre, with a libretto by David Noroña. Although it has techno rock influences, it is meant to be performed by singers with operatic or musical theater backgrounds. Although it bears the same name, it is based only very loosely on John Milton's 17th-century epic poem of the same title. [1]

Contents

[edit] Performances

Eric Whitacre conducted two concert performances of this piece on February 11th and 12th 2006, during his 12 day residency at the Northeastern University School of Music. It was presented with the university’s American Music Theater Project. The performances featured soprano Hila Plitmann, guest baritone Damon Kirsche, guest tenor Omar Gutierrez Crook, Northwestern University’s Contemporary Music Ensemble, and student soloists. [2]

[edit] Main Characters

  • Logos
  • Gravitas
  • Ignis
  • Extasis
  • Pieta
  • Fervio
  • Aia [3]

[edit] Synopsis

A prologue describes how the winged Children of the World were abandoned by their parents (the angels of light). They have been left in a walled city and their wings have been removed, leaving them defenseless and mortal. Seventeen years later they have formed a society. Logos, the eldest angel, has taken it upon himself to protect the Children. He and his henchman, Ignis, have nightly combats challenged in order to train the society to defend their home. Logo’s sister, Exstasis, starts to have visionary dreams in which she remembers parts of the night they were abandoned. These dreams inspire her to search for the missing wings and what may lie beyond the stone walls of their home. These siblings are juxtaposed throughout their opera as Logos is driven by his fears of what lies outside the walls, while Exstasis is driven by her hopes of a better world outside of what she already knows.[4]

[edit] Musical Numbers

[edit] Act I

  • Children of Paradise: Logos and Company
  • Forgotten: Exstasis and Logos
  • Butterflies: Exstasis
  • This is the Way: Logos, Ignis, Pura, and Company
  • What If: Exstasis, Pieta, Fervio, Aia, Gravitas
  • The Principles: Logos, Exstasis, and Company
  • Stealing Song: Gravitas and Company
  • Eldest of All: Logos
  • Revolution Quintet: Exstasis, Pieta, Fervio, Aia, Gravitas
  • Act I Finale: Logos, Fervio, Exstasis, and Company

[edit] Act II

  • Little One: Ignis
  • Libertas Imperio: Logos, Ignis, and Company
  • Sleep My Child: Aia, Exstasis, Pieta
  • Close Your Eyes: Exstasis
  • All Alone: Fervio
  • Remember: Exstasis and Company=
  • The Battle: Company
  • Bliss: Exstasis, Logo, and Company [5]

[edit] Asian Influence

The opera has many Asian influences. The prologue and all past sequences (Extasis’s dreams and vision) are told through anime. These sequences are projected onto the set. Other Asian influences include live Taiko drumming, martial arts, and a Kuroko-style ensemble. [6]

[edit] Awards and Nominations

Paradise Lost received 10 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards Nominations, including Costume Design in an Intimate Theater: Soojin Lee; Sound and Design in an Intimate Theater: Martin Carillo; World Premier Musical, and Musical in an Intimate Theater.[7]

[edit] References