Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings

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Hila Plitmann in 'Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings.'.
Hila Plitmann in 'Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings.'.

Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings is an “opera electronica” in two acts by Eric Whitacre and lyricist David Noroña, and is set in English. The innovative music combines styles of opera, musical theater, cinematic music, as well as electronic music techniques of trance music, ambient music, and techno to portray the story of a fallen angel who must overcome obstacles to return home. The plot can only be faintly compared to John Milton’s novel Paradise Lost. [1]

Contents

[edit] Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast: July 28, 2007
Extasis soprano Hila Plitmann
Logos bass-baritone Dan Callaway
Fervio tenor Daniel Tatar
Gravitas bass Rodolfo Nieto
Ignis tenor Kevin Odekirk
Aia soprano Marie M. Wallace
Pieta mezzo-soprano Juli Robbins

[1]

[edit] Synopsis

The opera begins with an anime prologue set years before. The angels of light leave their children behind a rock wall in preparation for the battle with the forces of darkness. The children are left without wings, which leaves them unarmed and mortal, until the war has ended. The angels of light promise to return soon, with wings and to bring the children home.

Seventeen years later, the angels of light still have not returned. Logos and his henchman, Ignis, two of the many angel children who were left long ago, are creating a powerful army by engaging the tribe in nightly combats. This vigorous training is conducted because of Logos’s belief of a darkness beyond the wall.

Logos’s restless sister, Extasis, experiences flashbacks of the night when the parents left the children. While her visions and memories are helping her better realize the true events of that life-changing night, Extasis believes that there is a better world outside of the prison where they reside. This captivity causes Extasis to question if staying behind the rock, wingless, and preparing for war is the best life to live. Her faith in a better world compels her to begin a journey in search for the hidden wings in order to return home.

During the opera Logos and Ignis are tempted with the idea of power, while Fervio and Gravitas add the comic relief as a troublemaking loner and a thief while progressing the plot. Throughout, the largest struggle is the tribe constantly contemplating if it is worth breaking through the rock barrier to face the unknown, good or bad.

The audience and the characters are held in suspense until the end. Ultimately, the tribe breaks through the wall and experiences a musical and emotional victory.[1][2]

[edit] Performance History

The music of Paradise Lost was premiered in Berlin, Germany in the summer of 2003, and a year later the opera debuted at California State University, Northridge.

The show premiered in a semi-staged performance at Northwestern University including students from the University’s American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) on February 11th and 12th, 2006.

On July 28, 2007, the show made its world premiere in Pasadena, California at the Theatre at Boston Court and closed on September 2, 2007.[1][3]

[edit] Musical Numbers

[edit] Act I

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


[edit] Act II

  • “Little One” – Ignis
  • “Libertas Imperio” – Logos, Ignis, & Company
  • “Sleep, My Child” – Pieta, Aia, Extasis
  • “Close Your Eyes” – Exstasis
  • “All Alone” – Fervio
  • “Remember” – Exstasis & Company
  • “The Battle” – Company
  • “Bliss” – Exstasis, Logos, & Company

[4]


[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d “Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings.” Entheos Interactive. <http://www.paradiselosttheopera.com/home.html>.
  2. ^ Verini, Bob. “Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings.” Variety. 7 Aug. 2007 <http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117934306.html?categoryid=33&cs=1>.
  3. ^ Moore, Judy. “Whitacre to conduct ‘Paradise Lost’.” Observer Online. 26, Jan. 2006 <http://www.northwestern.edu/observer/issues/2006/01/26/paradise.html>.
  4. ^ Hitchcock, Laura. “A CurtainUp Los Angeles Review Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings.” CurtainUp. 2007 < http://www.curtainup.com/paradiselostla.html>.


[edit] External Links