The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 (opera)

The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 is a full-scale opera by Philip Glass with a libretto by Doris Lessing based on her novel of the same name, first performed in 1988. Together with Glass's 1997 opera The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five, it is part of a planned trilogy of operas based on Lessing's Canopus in Argos novels.[1]

The Making of the Representative for Planet 8
Opera by Philip Glass
Glass in 2006
LibrettistDoris Lessing
Based onLessing's novel of the same name
Premiere
July 8, 1988 (1988-07-08)
Houston Grand Opera

The opera was co-commissioned by English National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam, and Theater Kiel, and co-produced with Artpark, Lewiston, New York State.

Performance history

The opera was first performed at Houston Grand Opera on 8 July 1988.[2] The British premiere was 9 November 1988 by English National Opera at the London Coliseum.[3] This production was broadcast live in the UK on BBC Radio 3 on 13 December 1988.

Roles
Role Voice type Houston premiere, 8 July 1988
(conductor: John DeMain)		London premiere, 9 November 1988
(conductor: Michael Lloyd)[4]
Doeg Memory-maker and Storyteller baritone Harlan FossAndrew Shore
Johor Canopean agent bass Timothy BreeseRichard Angas
Alsi a young woman soprano Louise EdeikenLesley Garrett
Marl Keeper of the Herds baritone David LanganSimon Masterton-Smith
Bratch Guardian of Health mezzo-soprano Julia ParksTamsin Dives
Pedug Teacher of the Young baritone Richard SutliffJohn Kitchiner
Rivalin Custodian of the Lake mezzo-soprano Patricia ShocklerJady Pearl
Masson the Builder tenor Edgar MoorePeter Bamber
Klin Tender of Fruits and Plants soprano Edrie MeansGloria Crane
Nooni a young man tenor Jason AlexanderChristopher Gillett

Synopsis

The people of Planet 8 are peaceful and content, until one of the Canopean Agents arrives and tells them to prepare for an impending ice age. The embattled population fights courageously in the face of certain death, and their efforts are transformed when they become the one single "representative" of the planet's people and culture.

Recordings

Unlike many of Philip Glass's other operas, The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 has not been recorded for CD sale.

References
Notes
  1. "The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five". Philip Glass. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  2. Houston Grand Opera program notes
  3. English National Opera programme notes. Henrietta Bredin (editor), Battley Brothers Printers, London.
  4. "Planet 8: a total mismatch" by Andrew Clements, Opera, January 1989, p. 15.
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