OPERA SEARCH
Prometheus
(1957-58)Libretto by the composer after Aeschylus (G)
M,A,2T,2Bar,2B; small male chorus; female chorus;
1.picc.1.1.corA.1.bcl.1.dbn-4.3.4.0-perc-pft-strings
Abbreviations (PDF)
Bote & Bock
Kassel
Company: Unknown
| PROMETHEUS | Baritone |
| HEPHAISTOS | Tenor |
| OKEANOS | Bass |
| IO | Mezzo Soprano |
| HERMES | Tenor |
| CHOIR MISTRESS | Contralto |
| POWER and VIOLENCE, Zeus's assistants | Baritone, Bass |
| OKEANIDES |
Barren rocks in mythical times
Reluctantly Hephaistos follows Zeus’s instruction and forges Prometheus to the rock for bringing fire to mankind. Okeanos advises Prometheus to yield to the power of the father of the gods in order to get his mercy. But Prometheus will not yield. He recounts to the Okeanides what he has done for mankind. Then Io appears, also punished by Zeus and doomed to restless hurrying through the world. The promise says she will bear a son, and one of his offspring shall break the power of the father of the gods. Prometheus sneers at Hermes, who has come to learn who that highflying descendant will be. Prometheus sinks – with an unbroken spirit – into Tartarus.
Dramatic, Tragic