Paradise Lost (Penderecki)
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DescriptionSacra Rappresentazione
LibrettistChristopher Fry
LanguageEnglish
Based on"Paradise Lost" by John Milton
| Paradise Lost | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Krzysztof Penderecki | |
 The composer in 2008 | |
| Description | Sacra Rappresentazione |
| Librettist | Christopher Fry |
| Language | English |
| Based on | "Paradise Lost" by John Milton |
| Premiere | |
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.[1] 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.[2] The same production was presented at La Scala, Milan, on 31 January 1979.[3][4][5]
The opera is set in heaven, hell, and on earth at the dawn of creation, and is divided into 42 scenes.
