Kopernikus (Vivier)

Kopernikus (sub. Rituel de mort; translated as Ritual of Death) is a 1979 opera in two acts by Canadian composer Claude Vivier, inspired by the astronomer of the same name.[1][2][3] It is the only opera of three that Vivier completed prior to his death in 1983.[4] A typical performance lasts around seventy minutes.

History

The opera was completed on 14 May 1979, and first premiered only in its musical form on 8 May 1980 at the Théâtre du Monument National in Montréal, under the conductor Lorraine Vaillancourt.[2] Vivier dedicated the piece to his "maître and friend" Gilles Tremblay, whom he had studied composition with for four years.[3]

Composition

Analysis

The libretto of Kopernikus, written entirely by Vivier, is composed of sections in German, French, and Vivier's langue inventées — an example of his preoccupation with linguistics and musical multilingualism.[2]

Program notes
Witches' Tree (1891) by Edward Burne-Jones. The two characters depicted here, Merlin and the witch, are antagonists in Kopernikus.

The notes given by Vivier in the finished manuscript, with English translation below:

Le personnage central est Agni; autour d’elle gravitent des êtres mythiques (représentés par les six autres chanteurs) tirés de l'histoire: Lewis Carroll, Merlin, une sorcière, la Reine de la nuit, un aveugle prophète, un vieux moine, Tristan et Isolde, Mozart, le Maître des eaux, Copernic et sa mère. Ces personnages sont peut-être les rêves d'Agni qui l'accompagnent dans son initiation et finalement dans sa dématérialisation.[2]

The main character is Agni; mystical beings borrowed from stories (represented by the other six singers) gravitate around her: Lewis Carroll, Merlin, a witch, the Queen of the Night, a blind prophet, an old monk, Tristan and Isolde, Mozart, the Master of the Waters, Copernicus and his mother. These characters could be Agni's dreams that follow her during her initiation and finally into her dematerialization.[2]

Instrumentation

The opera is in a smaller scale compared to other classical operas. It is scored for seven vocalists who double as percussionists (similar to the chamber compositions of George Crumb), and pre-recorded tape.[3]

Percussion
Balinese gong
3 Japanese gongs
Large tam-tam
Tubular bells
Bass drum
Magnetic tape
Crotales
Antique cymbals
Glockenspiel
Tape
Voice
2 Sopranos
Mezzosoprano
Contralto
Tenor
Baritone
Bass

Synopsis and structure
Scene English translation
Act One
Prélude Prelude
La Salution The Greeting
L'agrégation d'Agni The Union of Agni
La Quête The Collection
Les Visions The Visions
La Proclamation de la prière The Call to Prayer
Discours du sage et préparation à la méditation Speech of the Sage and Preparation for Meditation
La Solitude d'Agni The Solitude of Agni
La Meditation The Meditation
Act Two
Préparation et l'Ultime èpreuve Preparation and the Final Proof
La Grande Transe de initiés The Great Trance of the Initiates
Le Duo d'amour The Love Duet
La Purification The Purification
L'Ultime Épreuve The Final Proof
Les Étoiles The Stars
La Sortie : vers la démáterialisation The Departure: to Dematerialization

References

Citations
  1. Gilmore (2014), p. 14.
  2. Lankenau et al. (2012), p. 15.
  3. Gilmore (2014), p. 258.
  4. Gilmore (2014), p. 4.

Sources
  • Braes, Ross (2003). An Investigation of the Jeux De Timbres in Claude Vivier's Orion and His Other Instrumental Works of 1979-80. University of British Columbia Press.
  • Gilmore, Bob (2014). Claude Vivier: A Composer's Life. University of Rochester Press. ISBN 978-1-58046-841-1.
  • Lankenau, Steven; Chan, Trudy; Gewirtz, Eric (2012). Vivier Works: Claude Vivier (PDF). Boosey and Hawkes.

Further reading
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