Greek (opera)
Encyclopedia
Greek is an opera
in two acts composed by Mark-Anthony Turnage
to a libretto
adapted by Turnage and Jonathan Moore from Steven Berkoff
's 1980 verse play Greek
. The play and the opera are a re-telling of Sophocles
's Greek tragedy Oedipus the King
with the setting changed to the East End of London
in the 1980s. The opera was first performed on 17 June 1988 in the Carl-Orff-Saal, Munich, in a co-production by the Munich Biennale
, the Edinburgh International Festival
and the BBC
.
, who had taught Turnage at the Tanglewood Music Center
and admired his work. Turnage adapted Berkoff's play for the libretto with the help of Jonathan Moore who would be the stage director of the premiere production. The adaptation involved shortening the play, re-ordering some of its text, and the addition of a police riot scene not in Berkoff's original.
Sian Edwards conducted the world premiere of Greek on 17 June 1988 in the Carl-Orff-Saal of the Munich Gasteig
. The production was directed by Jonathan Moore with sets and costumes by David Blight, and lighting by Kevin Sleep. Greek ran for two more performances at the Biennale on 18 and 19 June, and received its UK premiere the following month at the Edinburgh Festival. In 1990 the BBC filmed a television version of Greek at the Liverpool Warehouse with the original world premiere cast and the Almeida Ensemble. The production, directed by Peter Maniura and Jonathan Moore and conducted by Richard Bernas
, won the Royal Philharmonic Society
Award for Best Broadcast (Radio or Television).
The first fully staged production of Greek in Australia took place at the Chamber Made
Theatre in Melbourne on 13 June 1991. That same year it premiered in Italy at the Montepulciano
Festival on 1 August. Further national premieres followed in the second half of the 1990s: Netherlands (Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam, 3 January 1996); Austria (Odeon, Vienna, 20 October 1996); and the United States (Aspen Music Festival, 23 July 1998. Among its 21st century performances in the UK were a staged performance at the Royal Northern College of Music
in Manchester in 2000, and a semi-staged concert performance at London's Barbican Centre
in January 2003. The first staged performance to be seen in Chicago was produced by the Chicago Opera Vanguard company in May 2009.
The original productions of the play of the same name by Steven Berkoff on which the opera in based followed a similar division of roles:
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...
in two acts composed by Mark-Anthony Turnage
Mark-Anthony Turnage
Mark-Anthony Turnage is a prolific English composer of classical music. His initial musical studies were with Oliver Knussen, John Lambert, and later with Gunther Schuller...
to 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...
adapted by Turnage and Jonathan Moore from Steven Berkoff
Steven Berkoff
Steven Berkoff is an English actor, writer and director. Best known for his performance as General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy, he is typically cast in villanous roles, such as Lt...
's 1980 verse play Greek
Greek (play)
Greek is a play by Steven Berkoff.It was first performed at the Half Moon Theatre in London on 11 February 1980, in a production directed by the author. The cast was:*Eddy & Fortune-teller: Barry Philips*Dad & Manager of cafe: Matthew Scurfield...
. The play and the opera are a re-telling of Sophocles
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
's Greek tragedy Oedipus the King
Oedipus the King
Oedipus the King , also known by the Latin title Oedipus Rex, is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed c. 429 BCE. It was the second of Sophocles's three Theban plays to be produced, but it comes first in the internal chronology, followed by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone...
with the setting changed to the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
in the 1980s. The opera was first performed on 17 June 1988 in the Carl-Orff-Saal, Munich, in a co-production by the Munich Biennale
Munich Biennale
The Munich Biennale is an opera festival in the city of Munich. The full German name is Internationales Festival für neues Musiktheater, literally: International Festival for New Music Theater. The biennial festival was created in 1988 by Hans Werner Henze and is held in even-numbered years over...
, the Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around the middle of August. By invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music , theatre, opera...
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Background and performance history
Turnage composed Greek between 1986 and 1988 as a commission from the City of Munich for one of five new operas to premiere at the first Münchener Biennale. The commission was suggested by the Biennale's founder, German composer Hans Werner HenzeHans Werner Henze
Hans Werner Henze is a German composer of prodigious output best known for "his consistent cultivation of music for the theatre throughout his life"...
, who had taught Turnage at the Tanglewood Music Center
Tanglewood Music Center
The Tanglewood Music Center is an annual summer music academy in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States, in which emerging professional musicians participate in performances, master classes and workshops designed to provide an intense training and networking experience...
and admired his work. Turnage adapted Berkoff's play for the libretto with the help of Jonathan Moore who would be the stage director of the premiere production. The adaptation involved shortening the play, re-ordering some of its text, and the addition of a police riot scene not in Berkoff's original.
Sian Edwards conducted the world premiere of Greek on 17 June 1988 in the Carl-Orff-Saal of the Munich Gasteig
Gasteig
Gasteig is a cultural center in Munich, opened in 1985, which hosts the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. The Richard Strauss Conservatory, the Volkshochschule, and the municipal library are all located in the Gasteig...
. The production was directed by Jonathan Moore with sets and costumes by David Blight, and lighting by Kevin Sleep. Greek ran for two more performances at the Biennale on 18 and 19 June, and received its UK premiere the following month at the Edinburgh Festival. In 1990 the BBC filmed a television version of Greek at the Liverpool Warehouse with the original world premiere cast and the Almeida Ensemble. The production, directed by Peter Maniura and Jonathan Moore and conducted by Richard Bernas
Richard Bernas
Richard Bernas is a British-based conductor.He studied Music at York University and conducting with Witold Rowicki in Warsaw ....
, won the Royal Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
Award for Best Broadcast (Radio or Television).
The first fully staged production of Greek in Australia took place at the Chamber Made
Chamber Made
Chamber Made Opera is an Australian production house for contemporary opera and music-theatre. Formed in 1988 by theatre director and librettist Douglas Horton...
Theatre in Melbourne on 13 June 1991. That same year it premiered in Italy at the Montepulciano
Montepulciano
Montepulciano is a medieval and Renaissance hill town and comune in the province of Siena in southern Tuscany, in Italy. Montepulciano, with an elevation of 605 m, sits on a high limestone ridge. By car it is 13 km E of Pienza; 70 km SE of Siena, 124 km SE of Florence, and...
Festival on 1 August. Further national premieres followed in the second half of the 1990s: Netherlands (Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam, 3 January 1996); Austria (Odeon, Vienna, 20 October 1996); and the United States (Aspen Music Festival, 23 July 1998. Among its 21st century performances in the UK were a staged performance at the Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
in Manchester in 2000, and a semi-staged concert performance at London's Barbican Centre
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
in January 2003. The first staged performance to be seen in Chicago was produced by the Chicago Opera Vanguard company in May 2009.
Roles
The opera was written for a cast of four singers, sharing eleven roles thus:- Eddy (high baritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
) – created by Quentin Hayes - Wife, Doreen, Sphinx II, Waitress I (mezzo-sopranoMezzo-sopranoA mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
) – created by Fiona KimmFiona KimmFiona Kimm, the distinguished British Mezzo Soprano, is known for a wide ranging operatic and concert repertoire.-Education and early career:... - Dad, Cafe Manager, Police Chief (baritone) – created by Richard SuartRichard SuartRichard Suart is an English opera singer and actor, who has specialised in the comic roles of Gilbert and Sullivan operas and in operetta, as well as in avant-garde modern operas...
- Mum, Sphinx I, Waitress II (sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
) – created by Helen Charnock
The original productions of the play of the same name by Steven Berkoff on which the opera in based followed a similar division of roles:
- Eddy, Fortune-teller
- Dad, Manager of cafe
- Wife, Doreen, Waitress 1
- Mum, Sphinx, Waitress 2
Sources
- Byrne, John, "Mark-Anthony Turnage's Greek at the RNCM", Musical Opinion, July 2000 (subscription access)
- Ewans, Michael, Opera from the Greek: Studies in the poetics of appropriation, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0754660990
- Fowler, John, "Controversial Festival opera faces crisis", The Glasgow Herald, 18 July 1988, p. 4
- Johnson, Lawrence A., "Greek is no classic, yet young company gives Turnage opera an energetic local premiere", Chicago Classical Review, 3 June 2009
- Münchener Biennale Archives, Greek, 1988
- Pettitt, Stephen, Mark-Anthony Turnage and 'Greek', The Musical Times, Vol. 129, No. 1746 (Aug., 1988), pp. 397–400
- Schott MusicSchott MusicSchott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
, Greek - Service, Tom, "Turnage weekend", The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 20 January 2003 - Stearns, David Patrick,"Composer gets chance to be 'Greek' to U.S. audiences", USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, 22 July 1998 (subscription access)