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Birtwistle's The Minotaur: the opera and a diary of its first production

2008; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 20; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s095458670900247x

1474-0621

Rhian Samuel,

Theater, Performance, and Music History

Abstract Harrison Birtwistle's The Minotaur , to a libretto by David Harsent, was premiered at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in April 2008. This article offers a synopsis, a diary of rehearsals for the opera (for all of which the composer was in attendance), and an analytical essay. The diary chronicles the development of the production, with its diversions from, and clarifications of, the text as well as the composer's reaction to these. The essay presents The Minotaur as a departure for Birtwistle, from narrative (as in the earlier Gawain ) to characterisation, its basis being a trio of protagonists. While a predictably heroic Theseus and tragic Minotaur are characters fashioned by the libretto as much as the music, a multi-faceted Ariadne is primarily the composer's creation.