Oratorio for female chorus and orchestra (2020)
30 minutes
Libretto
Libretto in Ancient Greek by the composer based on texts by Aeschylus, Apollodorus, Empedocles, Euripides, Philostratus the Elder and Sophocles.
Instrumentation
Female chorus
3333* / 4431 / 4 perc / harpsichord / strings
3 Flutes (3rd also Piccolo), 3 Oboes, 3 Clarinets in B♭ (3rd also Bass Clarinet), 3 Bassoons (3rd also Contrabassoon)
4 Horns in F, 4 Trumpets in C, 2 Tenor Trombones, 1 Bass Trombone with F and G♭ attachments, 1 Tuba
4 Percussion players. 1 Pair of Large Cymbals (between 50cm/20” and 55cm/22”, large and resonant), Glockenspiel, Extremely Large Tam-tam (200cm/80”), Bell Tree, Sandpaper Blocks, Large Suspended Cymbal, Wind Gong (between 55cm/22” and 80cm/32”), Vibraphone (with low extension to C3, if available), Snare Drum, Bass Drum (tight and not too large), Crotales (two octaves), Hi-hat (jazz, tight and thin), 3 Small Splash Cymbals (approximately 15cm/6”, 20cm/8” and 25cm/10”), 3 Triangles (different ranges), Very Large Thunder Sheet, Small Suspended China Cymbal (approximately 35cm/14”), Ratchet (very loud and aggressive), Bass Drum (very large, resonant and deep), Suspended China Cymbal (48cm/19”), Tambourine (bright, 25cm/10”, double row), Ocean Drum (approximately 55cm/22”), Güiro
Harpsichord (amplification is necessary)
Strings (Double Basses: most, if not all, must have low extension)
Description
Antigone defies King Creon’s decree by burying her brother, who has been declared a traitor. By choosing the laws of kinship and the gods over those of the state, she sets off a chain of fatal consequences for herself and those she loves.
The best-known version of the Antigone story is the tragedy of the same name dating from about 441 BC by Sophocles, but Antigone also appears in a number of other Ancient Greek texts. The libretto by Samy Moussa takes in some even older texts in an attempt to provide an objective picture. The events are related in Ancient Greek by a female chorus and there are no individual singing characters. Says Moussa: “In aesthetic and ethical terms, the idea of cultural continuity is fundamental to me. The use of Ancient Greek allows me to emphasise the connection between antiquity and us, now. We are the same.”
Interview
Dedication
Renaud Loranger
Commission
Jointly commissioned by Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Amsterdam, Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Oslo and Festival de Lanaudière
First performance
March 24, 2025
Amsterdam, Netherlands / Dutch National Opera & Ballet
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
Chorus of Dutch National Opera
Nanine Linning, choreography and stage direction
Erik Nielsen, conductor
Pairing suggestions
Igor Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex
Gustav Holst: The Planets
Claude Debussy: Nocturnes
Access
Available for hire.
Contact Nicolas Farmer: nicolas.farmer(a)samymoussa.com