The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 (opera)

The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 is a full-scale opera by Philip Glass with a libretto by Doris Lessing based on her novel of the same name, first performed in 1988. Together with Glass's 1997 opera The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five, it is part of a planned trilogy of operas based on Lessing's Canopus in Argos novels.

The opera was co-commissioned by English National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam, and Theater Kiel, and co-produced with Artpark, Lewiston, New York State.

Performance history The opera was first performed at Houston Grand Opera on 8 July 1988.Houston Grand Opera program notes The British premiere was 9 November 1988 by English National Opera at the London Coliseum.English National Opera programme notes. Henrietta Bredin (editor), Battley Brothers Printers, London. This production was broadcast live in the UK on BBC Radio 3 on 13 December 1988.

Roles Role Voice typeHouston premiere, 8 July 1988(conductor: John DeMain)London premiere, 9 November 1988(conductor: Michael Lloyd)"Planet 8: a total mismatch" by Andrew Clements, Opera, January 1989, p. 15. Doeg Memory-maker and Storyteller baritone Harlan FossAndrew Shore Johor Canopean agent bass Timothy BreeseRichard Angas Alsi a young woman soprano Louise EdeikenLesley Garrett Marl Keeper of the Herds baritone David LanganSimon Masterton-Smith Bratch Guardian of Health mezzo-soprano Julia ParksTamsin Dives Pedug Teacher of the Young baritone Richard SutliffJohn Kitchiner Rivalin Custodian of the Lake mezzo-soprano Patricia ShocklerJady Pearl Masson the Builder tenor Edgar MoorePeter Bamber Klin Tender of Fruits and Plants soprano Edrie MeansGloria Crane Nooni a young man tenor Jason AlexanderChristopher Gillett

Synopsis The people of Planet 8 are peaceful and content, until one of the Canopean Agents arrives and tells them to prepare for an impending ice age. The embattled population fights courageously in the face of certain death, and their efforts are transformed when they become the one single "representative" of the planet's people and culture.

Recordings Unlike many of Philip Glass's other operas, The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 has not been recorded for CD sale.

References

External links Dedicated page on the official web site of Philip Glass Details of the opera, including production photographs, dorislessing.org "Reviews/Music; New Opera By Lessing And Glass" by John Rockwell, The New York Times, 11 July 1988