The Last Supper

Work:: The Last Supper (S1222530385)

The twelve disciples are invited on our behalf by Ghost, a female representation of both Holy Spirit and Greek chorus, to another supper that will take place within a contemporary context. Memories of past events and the table from the upper room are reassembled from fragments. At the supper Christ 'washes the dust of centuries' from each of the disciples in turn, offering a ritualistic cleansing of the 'bestiality and vileness' of the intervening 2000 years. Robin Blaser makes this enquiry into the history of the Christian era through the use of some of the finest religious language, both liturgical and poetic, including quotations from Crashaw and Traherne. Birtwistle's music explores how history is transformed into myth, with the singers' text being refracted through a female off-stage 'chorus mysticus', and sustained in time by a pre-recorded 'chorus resonus'.

Music

Harrison Birtwistle

Listing:: L1972120353

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Production details

UK premiere, commissioned by Glyndebourne with Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and the Royal Festival Hall. Sung in English with supertitles. By permission of Boosey and Hawkes Music Publishers Limited. This performance lasts approximately 1hr 45mins with no interval.