Adam
Libretto by Jason Douglas Carlson
Written for Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative in 2016.
Summary
ADAM is the story of the creation of the world's first sentient artificial human. Mirroring the spirit of President Kennedy's launch of the U.S. space program, Adam's creator Athena seeks her goals "…not because they are easy but because they are hard" (JFK). She does so in the service of science and of her country…but is there justice in creating a being with free will for a purpose that he did not choose? Will Athena have the courage to stand by Adam against forces that would own his destiny? The ideals that inspire these questions would be as essential in such a future as they are now and as they were in the Kennedy era.
Character List
Athena (Soprano)
Adam (Tenor)
Colonel Grey (Baritone)
Running Time 20 minutes
Orchestration Piano Vocal OR Fl, Ob, Cl, Bs, Fr Hn, Tpt, Tbn, Pno, Vn, Va, Vc, Db
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Review
“Redler’s music conveyed some of the fresh beauty of an unspoiled awakening and then sang Adam back to sleep at the end.”