Paradise Lost (Penderecki)

Paradise Lost is an opera in two acts with music by Krzysztof Penderecki and an English libretto by Christopher Fry. The opera is based on the 1667 epic poem of the same name by Milton. Penderecki himself characterized the work as a Sacra Rappresentazione (sacred representation) rather than an opera.[1] He wrote the opera on commission for the 1976 US Bicentennial celebrations. The first performance was given on 29 November 1978, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.[2] The same production was given at La Scala, Milan on 31 January 1979.[3][4][5]

Paradise Lost
Opera by Krzysztof Penderecki
The composer in 2008
DescriptionSacra Rappresentazione
LibrettistChristopher Fry
LanguageEnglish
Based on"Paradise Lost" by John Milton
Premiere
29 November 1978 (1978-11-29)
Lyric Opera of Chicago

The opera is set in heaven, hell, and on earth at the dawn of creation, and is divided into 42 scenes.

Roles
Role Voice type Premiere cast,
29 November 1978
(Conductor: Bruno Bartoletti)[6]
John Milton speaker Arnold Moss
Adam baritone William Stone
Eve soprano Ellen Shade
Satan bass-baritone Peter Van Ginkel
Beelzebub tenor Michael Ballam
Moloch baritone William Powers
Belial tenor Melvin Lowrey
Mammon baritone Edward Huls
Death countertenor Paul Esswood
Sin mezzo-soprano Joy Davidson
Zephon soprano Susan Brummell
Ithuriel John Patrick Thomas
Gabriel tenor James Schwisow
Raphael Dale Terbeek
Messias baritone Alan Opie
Michael tenor Frank Little
Voices of God John Brandstetter
Voices of God David Howell
Voices of God Edward Huls
Voices of God Daniel McConnell
Voices of God William Mitchell

References
  1. Michael Walsh (12 December 1983). "Let the Secrets of Glory Open". Time. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
  2. Lange, Art, "First Performances: Penderecki's Paradise Lost (March 1979). Tempo (New Ser.), 128: pp. 34–35.
  3. Quinn, Daniel, "Styles in Production: Re-Visioning Opera" (1980). Performing Arts Journal, 5 (1): pp. 87-95.
  4. News (Performance Announcements). (December 1978). Tempo (New Ser.), 127: pp.54.
  5. Opera Archive
  6. "Lyric Opera of Chicago Archive: 1970-1979". Retrieved October 28, 2015.
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