Doctor atomic, the tale of the final hours before the first atomic bomb was tested in. John adams doctor atomic opera to libretto of historically accurate text and poems assembled by peter sellars. The opera, which premiered in 2005, takes place in the weeks leading up to the trinity test, the firstever detonation of a nuclear weapon. Faust offers to burn his books in exchange for divine mercy, because his lust for. J ohn adamss doctor atomic, to a libretto by peter sellars about the first atomic bomb test, has already been seen in an original san francisco version and at the new york met, relayed to cinemas.
Doctor atomic is nonesuchs thirtyfirst recording of the works on john adams, beginning with harmonielehre in 1986. Amid renewed nuclear concerns, doctor atomic by santa fe opera is newly topical the opera dramatizes the hours leading up to the first experimental atomic bomb explosion, in july 1945, in new. The composer leads the bbc singers and the bbc symphony orchestra in this recording, which features a cast led by gerald finley, who originated the. Doctor atomic is hobbled from the start by a peculiarly pretentious libretto clumsily sewn together by adamss regular. Their style blends progressive rock, art rock, metal, medieval influences, and eastern music. The opera begins in a hospital hallway, where eminent surgeon doctor gregg declares his love for anesthetist lola markham. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Opera librettos national library service for the blind. The libretto of doctor atomic was created by peter sellars, drawing on original source material, including personal memoirs, recorded interviews, technical manuals of nuclear physics, declassified government documents, and the poetry. Doctor atomic and his gadget the tanner lectures on human. In sellarss doctor atomic libretto, as in oes a personal matter, the word. Dec 17, 2007 once again john adamss doctor atomic, at the lyric opera of chicago, came across as the most complex and inventive of his works. Which is to say, it is not, as i can attest from conversations with the scientists themselves. Its fitting, then, that doctor atomic, an opera about oppenheimer and the trinity test now being performed at the santa fe opera, is a mishmash of references and quotations. Libretto by peter sellars drawn from original sources. Opera librettos national library service for the blind and.
New recording of doctor atomic may be the operas definitive. For a september bow at the san francisco opera, amy tan wrote the libretto for the bonesetters daughter, based on her novel about a. He discusses the mets production with adams, director penny woolcock, and set designer julian crouch. Santa fe opera announces 2018 lineup, including doctor atomic. Sellars, who assembled the operas libretto from historical sources. But the libretto has largely been written, if thats a verb you can apply to this text. There is the stuff of a real opera in doctor atomic. Oppenheimer had a book of poems by charles baudelaire. Doctor atomic is an opera by the contemporary american composer john adams, with libretto by peter sellars. Im a fan, but i doubt his third opera will rank among his finest works. Peter gelb, general manager of the metropolitan opera, moderates a discussion about his decision to stage john adams opera doctor atomic for the first time in new york city. Amid renewed nuclear concerns, doctor atomic by santa fe. Both of these had eloquent and pointed librettos by the poet alice goodman.
Audiences have their own favorites among the operas of john adams, but doctor atomic 2005 has the advantage of being inarguably suited in its subject matter to the dimensions of grand opera. Download the new ipad app to watch on your tv with apple tv via airplay. Doctor atomic, the much anticipated new work commissioned by san francisco opera, was also to have had a libretto by goodman, but she withdrew, and sellars took over as writer, abandoning any attempt at original text and instead assembling a pastiche of historical and literary quotations to dramatize the creation of the first atomic bomb. Certainly, the subject matterthe making and testing of the atomic bomb and its effects on those involvedis a strong foundation for an opera.
March 2012 introduction this circular contains braille and largeprint opera libretti. Aug 05, 2018 amid renewed nuclear concerns, doctor atomic by santa fe opera is newly topical the opera dramatizes the hours leading up to the first experimental atomic bomb explosion, in july 1945, in new. Read the libretto of the english opera doctor atomic by john coolidge adams on opera. Music appreciation final exam 69the librettist of doctor. Doctor atomic by bbc symphony orchestra, bbc singers, john adams from amazons classical music store. Opera doctor atomic by adams opera national du rhin. Nonesuch releases the first studio recording of john adams 2005 opera, doctor atomic. Doctor atomic too often treads heavy water at the barbican. Alice goodmans libretto, drawn from sources as vast and varied as. His most recent book of poems is called little kisses. In 2018, the santa fe opera will put on a production close to home. What happened at trinity is the subject of doctor atomic, a new opera, with music by john adams and a libretto by peter sellars. The language of each edition of the libretto is indicated next to the brm.
Jul 21, 2018 its fitting, then, that doctor atomic, an opera about oppenheimer and the trinity test now being performed at the santa fe opera, is a mishmash of references and quotations. It will have its premiere at the san francisco opera on october 1st. Bringing doctor atomic to the birthplace of the bomb the. In recognition of adams status as one of the preeminent composers of opera working today, doctor atomic has been produced at some of americas foremost opera companies, including the san francisco opera, lyric opera of chicago, and.
The operas libretto, assembled by sellars, includes original gold rush song lyrics, letters, journal entries, and personal memoirs from the era. Doctor atomic john adams lyric opera of chicago opera. The epic, tragic, operatic inside story of doctor atomic. Atomic opera are a hard rock band from houston, texas.
This particular interpretation utilizes a libretto by peter sellars, with a cast that includes richard paul fink as edward teller. Met opera on demand delivers instant access to more than 500 met performances, including live in hd videos, classic telecasts and radio broadcasts. The opera begins with the announcer presenting a commercial for lochinvar soap, sponsor of the soap opera gallantry. Doctor atomic the metropolitan opera by gary halvorson. It is, in turns, dramatic, luxurious, accomplished, moving, characterful, beautiful. It was premiered at the san francisco opera in 2005. The libretto of doctor atomic was created by peter sellars, drawing on original. The other new opera i am thinking of is, of course, the fly, which takes place in a similar time. In his 2005 opera, doctor atomic, he and regular collaborator peter sellars depict the events leading up to the testing in new mexico of the first atomic bomb in 1945, focusing on the preparations for this by the various scientists led by j. Composer john adams and librettistdirector peter sellars recount some of the events leading up to the first test in doctor atomic, commissioned and premiered by the san francisco opera. The libretti are organized alphabetically by title.
The concept of a libretto composed of these peoples documents and recorded conversations, combined with poetry that influenced them, seemed like a compelling and innovative way to set this contemporary story. Sep 12, 2011 john adams doctor atomic opera to libretto of historically accurate text and poems assembled by peter sellars. Doctor atomic, the new opera at the met, is as accurate a documentary about the invention of the atomic bomb as oliver stones film jfk is about the kennedy assassination. It premiered at the san francisco opera on october 1, 2005. It was imperative that santa fe opera produce doctor atomic, the 2005 opera by composer john adams and librettistdirector peter sellars.
The san francisco operas production of doctor atomic. Since brittens death some 30 years ago, the american composer john adams has emerged as the most powerful voice in the creation of opera doctor atomic is a moving and compelling work of moral, as well as musical, grandeur one is left with a sense of the terrible magnificence of atomic fission as well as its unimaginable. The beggars opera 1948 english libretto billy budd 1953 english libretto spanish translation the turn of the screw 1954 english libretto spanish translation. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Apr 26, 2017 im a fan, but i doubt his third opera will rank among his finest works. What to expect from doctor atomic metropolitan opera. Oct 24, 2008 first produced in 2005, doctor atomic is an englishlanguage opera about nuclear physicist j. I came away from the performance feeling that i had. An opera treating both contemporary and timeless issues, doctor atomic warns of the fall of the modern world, with love stories and broken hearts woven in. Feb 28, 2009 j ohn adamss doctor atomic, to a libretto by peter sellars about the first atomic bomb test, has already been seen in an original san francisco version and at the new york met, relayed to cinemas. In recognition of adams status as one of the preeminent composers of opera working today, doctor atomic has been produced at some of americas foremost opera companies, including the san francisco opera.
Once again john adamss doctor atomic, at the lyric opera of chicago, came across as the most complex and inventive of his works. The theme for this opera was suggested to adams by pamela rosenberg, general director of the san franciso opera. One of the most powerful things about doing doctor atomic here is to make a history from new mexico, said mr. Jan 27, 2020 in best tips best tips on making a longdistance relationship work. Longtime adams collaborator peter sellars created doctor atomics libretto, drawing from original sources. Doctor atomic is an opera by john adams and peter sellars about the first atom bomb. Read the libretto of the english opera doctor atomic by john coolidge adams on. Nobody goes into some kind of relationship hoping its going to be longdistance if you do, wed probably have to talk.
Peter sellars libretto borrows texts from poets like charles baudelaire, john donne, and muriel rukeyser. Composer john adamss predilection for topical operas reached a kind of apotheosis in 2005 with doctor atomic, which was premiered by the san francisco opera. First produced in 2005, doctor atomic is an englishlanguage opera about nuclear physicist j. Set in july 1945, the piece traces the days leading to the. Each entry includes the title, composer, and librettist, brm numbers for libretti available in braille, and lpm numbers for libretti available in largeprint. Lola, although she admires doctor gregg as a physician, is already engaged to donald hopewell. Unfortunately, the libretto turns out to be the greatest flaw in doctor atomic.
Formed in september 1991, the band began when founding member frank hart moved from. This is the context on which john adamss doctor atomic claims to draw. Jul 06, 2018 one of the most powerful things about doing doctor atomic here is to make a history from new mexico, said mr. Bringing doctor atomic to the birthplace of the bomb. John adamss doctor atomic, conducted by the composer.
Start studying music appreciation final exam 69the librettist of doctor atomic is. Hart continued to write music and decided to release a follow up album in 1997 under the atomic opera name called penguin dust, recruiting former drummer mark poindexter and multiinstrumentalist kemper crabb to assist. What adams and sellars, along with their artistic and technical collaborators, have achieved is an operatic masterpiece for the early 21st century. Robert oppenheimer, jessica rivera kitty oppenheimer, eric owens general leslie groves, richard paul f. Robert oppenheimer oppie, physicist and director of the manhattan project to develop a nuclear bomb lyric baritone edward teller, physicist bass. The theme for this opera was suggested to adams by pamela. Doctor atomic is an opera composed by john adams with a libretto by peter sellars. Books about oppenheimer and the bomb were being published, seemingly. Doctor atomic opera in two acts by john adams libretto by peter sellars drawn from original sources world premiere oct 1st, 2005, san francisco opera cast dr. Doctor atomic, like other new operas, takes on a rather controversial and not necessarily romantic subject. Robert oppenheimer oppie, physicist and director of the manhattan project to develop a nuclear bomb lyric baritone. Adams has created operas inspired by the drama and moral complexi ties of recent history, such. Doctor atomic opera in two acts by john adams libretto by peter. Robert oppenheimer and the first test of the atomic bomb he and his scientific team had assembled at.
611 404 717 1517 61 893 1016 684 320 251 367 1281 106 1515 1409 1069 845 62 16 309 446 1439 1182 1185 505 329 554 566 884 1332 117 570 1013 1401 915 235 1048