Council of the Dead
Cynthia Sternau
About this work:
Council of the Dead is the story of how Pluto, the king of the Underworld, complained to Zeus about the Judgement of the Dead and how a change in procedure was brought about to satisfy the gods so that justice was duly rendered. The opera is drawn from obscure sources in classical mythology and philosophy, principally from the Myth of Judgment in Plato’s Gorgia. This is the first opera in the trilogy A World Out of Time (Council of the Dead, The Challenge, Solon the Dreamer).
Dramatis Personae:
The Singer of Tales--Mezzo-soprano
Pluto--Tenor
Zeus--Bass-baritone
Rhadamanthys--Tenor
Aeacus--Bass-baritone
Minos--Bass
Salmoneos--Tenor
Pherecydes--Baritone
Pheraules--Bass-baritone
The Authorities of the Isles of the Dead--Three Silent Entities
Gods and Demigods, Attendants to Zeus--The Chorus
Version: 1
Year composed: 1996
Duration: 00:46:00
Ensemble type: Opera/Theater:Chamber Opera, Two or More Singers
Instrumentation: ,1 Mezzo-Soprano soloist(s), ,3 Tenor soloist(s), ,1 Baritone soloist(s), ,3 Bass-Baritone soloist(s), ,1 Bass soloist(s), ,3 S soloist(s), ,3 SS soloist(s), ,3 A soloist(s), ,3 AA soloist(s), ,3 T soloist(s), ,3 TT soloist(s), ,3 B soloist(s), ,3 BB soloist(s), ,1 Prerecorded Sound (Tape/CD/Other) soloist(s)
Instrumentation notes: Work is for soloists, chorus, and pre-recorded electronics (from CD or DAT).