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Golem

Chamber opera in two acts
(Prelude and Legend)
Edition: Performance material

Product Details

Description

The Maharal, a rabbi in sixteenth-century Prague, makes a huge man from clay through the power of the Kabbalah. This man, the golem, is meant to stand as an invincible force to protect the innocent and to obey his maker without question. However, the golem cannot be controlled in this way: he develops a sense of curiosity and begins to experience human feelings – in particular, towards the Maharal’s daughter, Miriam. A wounded figure, Ometh, a Promethean figure of hope and conscience, pursues the golem in the hope that they may work together, but the Maharal will not allow this to detract from his golem's mission and blocks the union. As far as the people from the town are concerned, the golem is a suspicious stranger, and they treat him scornfully as an outsider. They prepare to strike out against their miserable condition, but the golem's strength turns against those he has come to protect and he kills an innocent man with his axe. The Maharal has to accept that the living man he made must be returned to clay.
John Casken's first opera, written to a commission from the Almeida Festival for an intimate, atmospheric venue, is a rich score of sustained lyrical invention, despite its small ensemble of just 10 players plus pre-recorded sound. Casken has adapted the golem legend to reflect the pity and futility of absolute power and its inevitable outcome. In the process, he has created memorable and sympathetic characters and serves them with eloquent vocal writing and a strong feeling for dramatic pace and colour.

Orchestral Cast

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Cast

Maharal · baritone - Golem · bass-baritone - Miriam · soprano - Ometh · countertenor - Stoikus · tenor - Gerty · mezzo-soprano - Stump · tenor - Jadek · baritone

More Information

Title:
Golem
Chamber opera in two acts
(Prelude and Legend)
Words and music by John Casken
Libretto created in collaboration with Pierre Audi
Language:
English
Edition:
Performance material
Awards:
Jan 1, 1990
Winner of the first Britten Prize for Composition

Jan 1, 1993
Gramophone Award - Best Contemporary Recording

Publisher/Label:
Schott Music Ltd., London
Year of composition:
1986 - 1988
Duration:
95 ′
World Premiere:
June 28, 1989 · London (UK)
Almeida Theatre
Conductor: Richard Bernas
Original staging: Pierre Audi · Costumes: Hildegard Bechtler · Set desing: Kyoji Takubo
(scenic)
Commissioned work :
commissioned by the Almeida Festival with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain
Series:

Technical Details

Product number:
LSL 1306-01

Preview/Media Contents

Audio:

Performances

Set Ascending Direction
  • Golem
    Conductor: Philippe Nahon
    Orchestra: Ars Nova ensemble instrumental
    January 20, 2007 | Angers (France) , Grand Théâtre
    20.00 h
  • Golem
    Conductor: Philippe Nahon
    Orchestra: Ars Nova ensemble instrumental
    January 19, 2007 | Angers (France) , Grand Théâtre
    20.00 h
  • Golem
    Conductor: Philippe Nahon
    Orchestra: Ars Nova ensemble instrumental
    January 14, 2007 | Nantes (France) , Théâtre Graslin
    14.30 h
  • Golem
    Conductor: Philippe Nahon
    Orchestra: Ars Nova ensemble instrumental
    January 12, 2007 | Nantes (France) , Théâtre Graslin
    20.00 h
  • Golem
    Conductor: Philippe Nahon
    Orchestra: Ars Nova ensemble instrumental
    January 10, 2007 | Nantes (France) , Théâtre Graslin
    20.00 h
  • Set Ascending Direction

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