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Opera

Spieloper

Chamber opera in one act

Libretto by the composer after scenes from the Bhagavad Gita and poems by Kabir
Translations by Ramananda Prasad

Premiere: 22-24 August 2008 Purchase, NY, PepsiCo Theater · Conductor: Alan Johnson · Director: Robin Guarino · Set designer: Donald Eastman · Costume designer: Gabriel Berry
Instrumentation: Chamber opera
Orchestra instrumentation: 1(pic)0.1(bcl)0.tsx-0.0.0.0-2perc.tablas-pno-2vn.va.vc.db
Cast of characters: Indian vocalist, Tenor, 4 or 8 voice female chorus
Publisher: Schott Helicon Music
Duration: 70' 0''
Year of composition: 2008
Material on hire

Description:

Synopsis: At the battlefield on the eve of the first conflict of a massive civil war, the noble Prince Arjuna finds himself in a state of almost paralyzing confusion. He must lead his army against an enemy that includes family, friends, and teachers. Unable to justify such violence against his own people, he turns for guidance to his advisor and charioteer Krishna. In the ensuing dialogue, Krishna reveals himself to be an avatar of Vishnu, the most powerful god in the Hindu pantheon. At Arjuna's urging he transforms himself into a vision of the true nature of the universe, in all its splendor and its horror. At first entranced and then horrified, Arjuna begs Krishna to stop the vision and return to his normal form. His horizons newly expanded, Arjuna understands that he must not fear death, nor shirk his duty, which is not only the literal battle in front of him but, more importantly, the fight for self‐knowledge on the battlefield of the mind. Composer Note: Based on the towering Hindu epic, the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna's Dilemma utilizes North Indian performance styles, melodic structures, odd time signatures and rhythmic patterns alongside western instrumentation, harmonies and forms. North Indian vocals co‐mingle with a Western tenor and four‐part choral writing, with references to both modern vocal styles and Byzantine and Gregorian chant. Improvisation is common to both musical worlds, with the Indian singer, tabla player and jazz saxophonist each using their respective improvisatory traditions to reach for the ecstatic, the sublime and the terror that make up the emotional world of this work.

Recordings:

Douglas J Cuomo · ARJUNA'S DILEMMA (2008)

Douglas J. Cuomo

Arjuna's Dilemma

Various including: Alan Johnson, Amit Chatterjee, Tony Boutte, Ethel, Badal Boy
INNOVA Innova 697
(unknown source of supply)

Performances:
Show past performances

Alan Johnson Brooklyn Academy of Music, Harvey Theater - New York, NY - United States of America

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