The Last Supper (opera)
Encyclopedia
The Last Supper is an opera with music by Sir Harrison Birtwistle
to an English and Latin libretto by Robin Blaser
. Birtwistle composed the music over the period written in 1998-1999. The world premiere was given by the Berlin State Opera
on 18 April 2000, with the production directed by Martin Duncan and conducted by Daniel Barenboim
. It was subsequently performed by the Glyndebourne Touring Opera on 30 November 2000.
Choral parts
The story is a contemporary retelling of the "Last Supper
" story. It involves a character (Ghost) who represents ourselves/the audience. Ghost invites Christ and his disciples to supper. The ensuing drama juxtaposes the old and new, Jewish and Christian to raise questions about the myth/story of the Last Supper and its meaning in our modern context. The opera ends in the Garden of Olives with Christ asking, "Whom do you seek?" and then a cock crows.
Harrison Birtwistle
Sir Harrison Paul Birtwistle CH is a British contemporary composer.-Life:Birtwistle was born in Accrington, a mill town in Lancashire some 20 miles north of Manchester. His interest in music was encouraged by his mother, who bought him a clarinet when he was seven, and arranged for him to have...
to an English and Latin libretto by Robin Blaser
Robin Blaser
Robin Francis Blaser was an author and poet in both the United States and Canada.-Personal background:Born in Denver, Colorado, Blaser grew up in Idaho, and came to Berkeley, California, in 1944. There he met Jack Spicer and Robert Duncan, becoming a key figure in the San Francisco Renaissance of...
. Birtwistle composed the music over the period written in 1998-1999. The world premiere was given by the Berlin State Opera
Berlin State Opera
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden is a German opera company. Its permanent home is the opera house on the Unter den Linden boulevard in the Mitte district of Berlin, which also hosts the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra.-Early years:...
on 18 April 2000, with the production directed by Martin Duncan and conducted by Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim, KBE is an Argentinian-Israeli pianist and conductor. He has served as music director of several major symphonic and operatic orchestras and made numerous recordings....
. It was subsequently performed by the Glyndebourne Touring Opera on 30 November 2000.
Roles
- Christ (baritone)
- Judas (tenor)
- Ghost (soprano)
- Little James (countertenor)
- James (countertenor)
- Thomas (tenor)
- Andrew (tenor)
- Simon (tenor)
- Bartholomew (tenor)
- Philip (baritone)
- John (baritone)
- Matthew (bass-baritone)
- Thaddeus (bass)
- Peter (bass)
Choral parts
- Chorus Mysticus (amplified); 3 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, 3 altos
- Chorus Resonus (pre-recorded); 3 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, 3 altos
- Chorus in Visions I-III (pre-recorded); 3 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, 3 altos, 3 tenors, 3 baritones, 3 basses
Synopsis
Last Supper
The Last Supper is the final meal that, according to Christian belief, Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The Last Supper provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, also known as "communion" or "the Lord's Supper".The First Epistle to the Corinthians is...
" story. It involves a character (Ghost) who represents ourselves/the audience. Ghost invites Christ and his disciples to supper. The ensuing drama juxtaposes the old and new, Jewish and Christian to raise questions about the myth/story of the Last Supper and its meaning in our modern context. The opera ends in the Garden of Olives with Christ asking, "Whom do you seek?" and then a cock crows.