Our final opera for this year's 'Exploring New Operas' program was Dr. Atomic, an opera first performed .in 2005 and written by the American composer John Adams. It explores the tensions and doubts of the group of scientists who developed the first atomic weapon in the Nevada desert in the last days of World War Two.
Bad weather almost forced the group to cancel the crucial last test of the weapon prior to it being used in the war against Japan. While the military commander insisted the test proceed, the meteorologists refused to give the ‘all clear’ with the weather. Meanwhile scientists were placing bets on whether or not the test would be successful and some were convinced they were in danger if the bomb was prematurely exploded in the bad weather.
Production was by the Nederlands Opera in conjunction with a Chicago opera cohort. Dance enhanced the surreal staging of the opera and Adams musical score was highly praised. As with many modern operas the music played as a continuous background soundscape rising and falling with the tensions expressed in the libretto.
This exploration of twentieth century opera has demonstrated how far the genre has deviated from the joyous and musical treats of the great operas of the nineteenth century. Interesting as the new operas were, our group is looking forward to revelling in the great arias of this by.gone era again.
Meg Dillon
Bad weather almost forced the group to cancel the crucial last test of the weapon prior to it being used in the war against Japan. While the military commander insisted the test proceed, the meteorologists refused to give the ‘all clear’ with the weather. Meanwhile scientists were placing bets on whether or not the test would be successful and some were convinced they were in danger if the bomb was prematurely exploded in the bad weather.
Production was by the Nederlands Opera in conjunction with a Chicago opera cohort. Dance enhanced the surreal staging of the opera and Adams musical score was highly praised. As with many modern operas the music played as a continuous background soundscape rising and falling with the tensions expressed in the libretto.
This exploration of twentieth century opera has demonstrated how far the genre has deviated from the joyous and musical treats of the great operas of the nineteenth century. Interesting as the new operas were, our group is looking forward to revelling in the great arias of this by.gone era again.
Meg Dillon
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