EX PARADISUM (2016)

chamber opera for 5 solo voices and Sinfonietta

Voices: Col. Sop., Sop., M. Sop., Ten., Bar.

Ensemble: 1.(+Picc.)1.1.(+Bcl)1.(+Cbsn) - 1.1.1.0. - 2 Perc., Hp., Pno. - 1.1.1.1.1.(strings)

Work in progress - Scene III Duration: 10'

Première (of scene III): Vocalists: Daisy Schön, Maya Vansuch, Patricia Wallinga, John Punt, Julian Morris - Conductor: Joseph Stepec - IU New Music Ensemble - April 22nd, 2016 - Auer Hall - Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, Bloomington

The third scene of my chamber opera in progress, EX PARADISUM, which follows the story of Milton's Paradise lost. Like Milton's rendition of the origin story, EX PARADISUM follows Lucifer's plot to tempt Adam and Eve and presents her (here female) as a human and relatable character.

Scene III depicts Lucifer's first attempt at tempting Eve in which she comes to the Garden of Eden as Adam and Eve sleep and whisper's in Eve's ear. Lucifer begins by telling eve of the coming of mankind. She foretells of the cultures and art mankind will create and man's inevitable outgrowth of the need for god and religion. She promises to Eve that it is her destiny to stray from god and join the inevitable progress of mankind. Lucifer is discovered in the midst of her monologue by the angels, Gabriel and Zephon. Gabriel shouts to Lucifer that he will send her back to Hell. Lucifer replies angrily, threatening to return to Paradise and wage another war. The scene ends with the chorus of Adam, Eve and the Angel's singing the In Paradisum latin text-which tells of a chorus of angels welcoming one into Paradise-as they cast Lucifer out of Paradise.

Libretto -

[Adapted from John Milton's "Paradise Lost" by the composer in addition to original text written by the composer in collaboration with composer and librettist Paul Mortilla.]

ADAM: Eve, Fair Consort, the hour of night is come, and all things now retired to rest, Mind us of like repose; since God hath set Labor and rest, as day and night

EVE: So God ordains, Unargued I obey. Sweet is the breath of Morn, and sweet the coming on of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night.

ADAM: Tomorrow, at first approach of light, we must be risen. Eve, Daughter of God and Man, as Nature wills, night bids us rest.

EVE: My Author and Disposer, Adam, good night.

[ADAM and EVE lay down to rest. LUCIFER emerges.]

LUCIFER: Eve, fair, angelic Eve. Rest Eve. Dream of flower, herb, tree, and fruit, Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth. Dream of sweet morn, of To-morrow. Dream, dream of Eve. What Eve could be. Eve, crafted from the fiber of Adam. You are intelligent, so as Adam, if not so wise as god. You, Eve. Fancy, thyself a goddess, not to earth, to Adam, confined. Taste this fruit, and be henceforth among the Gods. Man will grow, will take, conquer Earth. Man will create art, music, will live, will love. And, with man’s growth, god will be forgotten. The time of god and his angels is forgone. The time for man, for you, has come. Taste this, and henceforth, take god’s place.

[GABRIEL and ZEPHON appear and take hold of LUCIFER.]

GABRIEL: You return from your prison escaped, Unlicensed from your bounds in Hell prescribed; So wise, you judge, to fly from pain however, so judge you still, God’s wrath taught you yet no better

LUCIFER: Lives there who loves his pain, Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, you too would no doubt.

GABRIEL: If from this hour within these you appear, back to the infernal pit I’ll drag you, chained, and seal thee so.

LUCIFER: You can cast me from paradise but you have no power in hell. I will return, I will take these gardens, take paradise. I will return. I will wage a war unparalleled. I will return, I will return. I will return!

CHORUS: In paradisum deducant te Angeli; Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

[English: May the angels lead you into paradise. May choirs of angels receive you and with Lazarus, once a poor man, may you have eternal rest.]