The Mask of Orpheus

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general information

composition date: 1983-1986
duration: 3h 30 min
editor: Universal Edition, Tesin
Commission: English National Opera et Ircam
Libretto (details, author): Peter Zinovieff

type

Vocal music and instrument(s) (3 solo voices or more, choir(s) and orchestra)

detailed formation

Soloist: 4 sopranos, 4 contraltos, 4 tenors, 4 bass voices, 2 solo sopranos, 3 solo mezzo-sopranos, solo contralto, 3 solo tenors, 3 solo baritones, solo bass-baritone, solo bass voice, 3 mimes [principaux]

4 flutes (also 3 piccolos, 3 alto flutes, bass flute), 3 oboes (also oboe d'amore, 2 English horns), baritone oboe (also English horn), 3 clarinets (also 2 Eb clarinets, 2 bass clarinets), bass clarinet (also contrabass clarinet), 3 soprano saxophones, 3 bassoons (also 2 contrabassoons), 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 6 trombones, 2 tubas, 7 percussionists, 3 harp, electric guitar, electric bass guitar, mandolin [électrique]

information about the creation

date: May 25, 1986
: Royaume-Uni, Londres, English National Opera
interpreters: les solistes et l'orchestre de l'English National Opera, direction : Elgar Howarth.

Information on the electronics

Studio information: Ircam
RIM (réalisateur(s) en informatique musicale): Marc Battier, Barry Anderson, Jean-Baptiste Barrière, Jean Holleville
Electronic device: sons fixés sur support

observations

Rôles

Orpheus - The Man, ténor
Orpheus - Hero, mime
Orpheus - The Myth, Hades, ténor 2
Euridice - The Woman, mezzo-soprano lyrique 1
Euridice - The Heroine, mime
Euridice - The Myth, Persephone, mezzo-soprano lyrique 2
Aristaeus - The Man, bariton aigu 1
Aristaeus - The Hero, mime
Aristaeus - The Myth / Charon, bariton aigu 2
The Oracle of the dead / Hecate, sopran aiguë
The Caller, baryton-basse
1. Priest, ténor héroïque
2. Priest, baryton
3. Priest, basse profonde
1. Woman, soprano
2. Woman, mezzo-soprano
3. Woman, contralto
The troupe of the passing clouds, mimes
Apollo, bande magnétique

similar works

Same type

Created the same year

Composed the same year

Same detailed formation

This entry is encyclopaedic in nature and does not reflect the collections of the Ircam media library. Please refer to the "scores" entries.

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