Paradise Lost is an opera in two acts with music by Krzysztof Penderecki and an English libretto by Christopher Fry. The opera is based on the 1667 epic poem of the same name by Milton. Penderecki himself characterized the work as a Sacra Rappresentazione (sacred representation) rather than an opera. He wrote the opera on commission for the 1976 US Bicentennial celebrations. The first performance took place on 29 November 1978, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.Lange, Art, "First Performances: Penderecki's Paradise Lost (March 1979). Tempo (New Ser.), 128: pp. 34–35. The same production was presented at La Scala, Milan, on 31 January 1979.Quinn, Daniel, "Styles in Production: Re-Visioning Opera" (1980). Performing Arts Journal, 5 (1): pp. 87-95.News (Performance Announcements). (December 1978). Tempo (New Ser.), 127: pp.54.Opera Archive
The opera is set in heaven, hell, and on earth at the dawn of creation, and is divided into 42 scenes.
Roles Role Voice type Premiere cast, 29 November 1978 (Conductor: Bruno Bartoletti) John Milton speaker Arnold Moss Adam baritone William Stone Eve soprano Ellen Shade Satan bass-baritone Peter Van Ginkel Beelzebub tenor Michael Ballam Moloch baritone William Powers Belial tenor Melvin Lowrey Mammon baritone Edward Huls Death countertenor Paul Esswood Sin mezzo-soprano Joy Davidson Zephon soprano Susan Brummell Ithuriel John Patrick Thomas Gabriel tenor James Schwisow Raphael Dale Terbeek Messias baritone Alan Opie Michael tenor Frank Little Voices of God John Brandstetter Voices of God David Howell Voices of God Edward Huls Voices of God Daniel McConnell Voices of God William Mitchell
References
Further reading Humphrey, Mary Lou (January 1979). "Paradise Lost: Penderecki's Operatic Enigma." Music Journal, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 11–13.