Lilith (2011)
A Chamber Opera - from Fallen Angels
Duration - 15:00
Cast
Lilith - dramatic coloratura soprano - Adam's ex-wife, a feminist
Eve - lyric coloratura soprano - Adam's current wife, very subservient
Adam - baritone - A spoiled man who is used to getting exactly what he wants with no trouble
Instrumentation - a) flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion (vibraphone, suspended cymbal, snare), piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, bass
b) flute, Bb clarinet, piano, violin, viola
Libretto
Including the following public domain poems and original words by Michael Oberhauser
"Upon a Maid that Died the Day she was Married" - by Robert Herrick
"Old and New" - by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
"She Being Young" - by John Charles McNeill
Genesis 3:4-5 - from the King James Bible
"From Dewy Dreams, My Soul, Arise" - by James Joyce
"Reward" - by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Setting - Adam and Eve's home, somewhere in the suburbs in the United States, possibly in the late 1960s.
Duration - 15:00
Cast
Lilith - dramatic coloratura soprano - Adam's ex-wife, a feminist
Eve - lyric coloratura soprano - Adam's current wife, very subservient
Adam - baritone - A spoiled man who is used to getting exactly what he wants with no trouble
Instrumentation - a) flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion (vibraphone, suspended cymbal, snare), piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, bass
b) flute, Bb clarinet, piano, violin, viola
Libretto
Including the following public domain poems and original words by Michael Oberhauser
"Upon a Maid that Died the Day she was Married" - by Robert Herrick
"Old and New" - by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
"She Being Young" - by John Charles McNeill
Genesis 3:4-5 - from the King James Bible
"From Dewy Dreams, My Soul, Arise" - by James Joyce
"Reward" - by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Setting - Adam and Eve's home, somewhere in the suburbs in the United States, possibly in the late 1960s.
Program Notes
Not everyone knows the story of Lilith.
If you look at the creation story at the beginning of Genesis, it first states that God created man and woman in his image. A few verses later, it states that God made man, then took one of his ribs to make woman. Some medieval scholars suggested that meant that there were two women. The second woman was Eve - Adam's wife that we all know. They suggested that the first was Lilith. Since she and Adam were made in God's image at the same time, that meant they were equal. Lilith refused to be subservient to Adam, so she became a demon - a succubus. All demons in the world are Lilith's descendants. In fact, according to some traditions, when a man has a nocturnal emission, that meant that Lilith visited him in his sleep so she could create more demon children. Lilith makes it her mission to make life difficult for Eve and her offspring - whenever a baby dies or a woman dies in childbirth, supposedly that is Lilith's doing. Some say that the serpent in the garden of Eden was, in fact, Lilith.
Not many faiths believe this story any more. Since then, Lilith has actually been raised up as a pioneer feminist. What was Lilith's first sin? Being equal with Adam?
In my adaptation, set in the late 1960s in suburban America, Lilith was Adam's first wife. They were probably married far too young. Their marriage didn't last long - Lilith was too much of a free spirit for Adam. When we first see Lilith, she has just found the ring Adam gave her. She wishes to return it, so she goes to his house.
Inside the house (rehearsal letter C) Adam is having breakfast and getting ready for work. He sings about his feelings: if something's old or not good any more, simply replace it. Lilith arrives at rehearsal letter H, and is shocked to find out that the much younger Eve is not Adam's new maid, but his wife. Lilith flies into a rage - Adam didn't wait very long to get married again.
Adam says he never loved Lilith like he loves Eve. At rehearsal K, Lilith mocks Adam's vain notions of love. Adam finally asks exactly why Lilith came. She shows him the ring he gave her, which makes Adam choke a bit. He chickens out and runs off to work, leaving Eve to serve Lilith some coffee.
Rehearsal P: The mood is tense, and time moves very slowly. When Eve finally speaks - just doing what Adam told her to do - her vocal range is very narrow. Lilith is hurt that she could be tossed aside so easily by Adam, but then she notices just how young Eve is at rehearsal R - Eve puts several spoonfuls of sugar into her own coffee. Lilith hatches a plan that will both enact revenge on Adam and open Eve's eyes. She pulls a cellophane-wrapped brownie from her bag - a special brownie. Lilith tries to get Eve to share it with her, but Adam doesn't let Eve have sweets. Lilith finally convinces Eve to take a bite, and then skips out to let the Eve finish it.
Rehearsal U: Some time passes, and the brownie is starting to do its work. Eve's range is finally opened up, and is just as wide as Lilith's. Adam returns home to find his stoned wife is - shockingly - not very interested in cooking dinner for him. Lilith has the last laugh.
If you look at the creation story at the beginning of Genesis, it first states that God created man and woman in his image. A few verses later, it states that God made man, then took one of his ribs to make woman. Some medieval scholars suggested that meant that there were two women. The second woman was Eve - Adam's wife that we all know. They suggested that the first was Lilith. Since she and Adam were made in God's image at the same time, that meant they were equal. Lilith refused to be subservient to Adam, so she became a demon - a succubus. All demons in the world are Lilith's descendants. In fact, according to some traditions, when a man has a nocturnal emission, that meant that Lilith visited him in his sleep so she could create more demon children. Lilith makes it her mission to make life difficult for Eve and her offspring - whenever a baby dies or a woman dies in childbirth, supposedly that is Lilith's doing. Some say that the serpent in the garden of Eden was, in fact, Lilith.
Not many faiths believe this story any more. Since then, Lilith has actually been raised up as a pioneer feminist. What was Lilith's first sin? Being equal with Adam?
In my adaptation, set in the late 1960s in suburban America, Lilith was Adam's first wife. They were probably married far too young. Their marriage didn't last long - Lilith was too much of a free spirit for Adam. When we first see Lilith, she has just found the ring Adam gave her. She wishes to return it, so she goes to his house.
Inside the house (rehearsal letter C) Adam is having breakfast and getting ready for work. He sings about his feelings: if something's old or not good any more, simply replace it. Lilith arrives at rehearsal letter H, and is shocked to find out that the much younger Eve is not Adam's new maid, but his wife. Lilith flies into a rage - Adam didn't wait very long to get married again.
Adam says he never loved Lilith like he loves Eve. At rehearsal K, Lilith mocks Adam's vain notions of love. Adam finally asks exactly why Lilith came. She shows him the ring he gave her, which makes Adam choke a bit. He chickens out and runs off to work, leaving Eve to serve Lilith some coffee.
Rehearsal P: The mood is tense, and time moves very slowly. When Eve finally speaks - just doing what Adam told her to do - her vocal range is very narrow. Lilith is hurt that she could be tossed aside so easily by Adam, but then she notices just how young Eve is at rehearsal R - Eve puts several spoonfuls of sugar into her own coffee. Lilith hatches a plan that will both enact revenge on Adam and open Eve's eyes. She pulls a cellophane-wrapped brownie from her bag - a special brownie. Lilith tries to get Eve to share it with her, but Adam doesn't let Eve have sweets. Lilith finally convinces Eve to take a bite, and then skips out to let the Eve finish it.
Rehearsal U: Some time passes, and the brownie is starting to do its work. Eve's range is finally opened up, and is just as wide as Lilith's. Adam returns home to find his stoned wife is - shockingly - not very interested in cooking dinner for him. Lilith has the last laugh.
Score (flute, Bb clarinet, piano, violin, viola version)
Recording
Recording Information
Recorded 12 November 2011
The Artist's Inn Residence
Washington, DC
Lilith - Daniele Lorio
Eve - Caitlin Budny
Adam - Joshua Brown
Flute - Rebecca Davidson
Clarinet - Elena Forbes
Violin - Lee Polites
Viola - Henry Valoris
Piano - Kayme Henkel
Conductor - Michael Oberhauser
The Artist's Inn Residence
Washington, DC
Lilith - Daniele Lorio
Eve - Caitlin Budny
Adam - Joshua Brown
Flute - Rebecca Davidson
Clarinet - Elena Forbes
Violin - Lee Polites
Viola - Henry Valoris
Piano - Kayme Henkel
Conductor - Michael Oberhauser
2012 Fringe Festival Performance
Recorded 28 July 2012 - Produced by Silver Finch Arts Collective
Lilith - Courtney Kalbacker
Adam - Joseph Pleuss
Eve - Shelby Claire
Flute - Julianne Martinelli
Clarinet - Elena Forbes
Violin - John Philligin
Viola - Henry Valoris
Piano - William Yanesh
Conductor - Michael Oberhauser
Adam - Joseph Pleuss
Eve - Shelby Claire
Flute - Julianne Martinelli
Clarinet - Elena Forbes
Violin - John Philligin
Viola - Henry Valoris
Piano - William Yanesh
Conductor - Michael Oberhauser