I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky
Encyclopedia
I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky is a 1995 musical/opera
with music composed by John Adams, with a libretto
by June Jordan
. The work was first performed May 1995 in Berkeley, California with staging by Peter Sellars
. Grant Gershon
was the conductor.
The story takes place in the aftermath of the 1994 earthquake
in Los Angeles, and covers the reactions of all characters to the event. The main characters are seven young Americans all living in Los Angeles but from different social and ethnic backgrounds.
Adams' composition consists of a number of popular-style songs which are performed by pop singers and accompanied by a combination of synthesized tunes and a rock band. Still, the work strongly bears Adams' signature minimalistic style.
The opera's title is based on a comment of one of the earthquake's victims.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
with music composed by John Adams, with a libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by June Jordan
June Jordan
June Millicent Jordan was a Caribbean American poet, novelist, journalist, biographer, dramatist, teacher and committed activist...
. The work was first performed May 1995 in Berkeley, California with staging by Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars is an American theatre director, noted for his unique contemporary stagings of classical and contemporary operas and plays...
. Grant Gershon
Grant Gershon
Grant Gershon is an American conductor and pianist. He is Music Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Associate Conductor/Chorus Master of the Los Angeles Opera, member of the Board of Councillors for the USC Thornton School of Music and a member of the Chorus America Board of...
was the conductor.
The story takes place in the aftermath of the 1994 earthquake
Northridge earthquake
The Northridge earthquake was a massive earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 04:31 Pacific Standard Time in Reseda, a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, lasting for about 10–20 seconds...
in Los Angeles, and covers the reactions of all characters to the event. The main characters are seven young Americans all living in Los Angeles but from different social and ethnic backgrounds.
Adams' composition consists of a number of popular-style songs which are performed by pop singers and accompanied by a combination of synthesized tunes and a rock band. Still, the work strongly bears Adams' signature minimalistic style.
The opera's title is based on a comment of one of the earthquake's victims.