Medusa
by Paola Livorsi
Chamber opera
Description
Opera, dance and visual arts come together in the multidisciplinary work MEDUSA, inspired by the paintings of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio and the madrigals of Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa (1566–1613). Medusa is a one-act performance that combines opera, dance and visual arts. The music is an organic interweaving of contemporary music composed by Paola Livorsi and the revolutionary Early Baroque harmony of Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa. The libretto is based on Caravaggio's life and ancient texts, which Livorsi and Orava compiled of Latin, Italian and ancient Greek poems. The world premiere of Medusa takes place at the Helsinki Contemporary Opera Festival 2022.
Both Caravaggio and Gesualdo were abusers and murderers. At the same time, they are the most ingenious innovators in the history of Western art and music. Medusa’s ever-present themes - narcissism and power - are discussed through the ancient fables of Narcissus and Medusa. As a result of narcissism, a person becomes petrified as if under the gaze of Medusa. Evil creates its face through violence. The grueling relationship between Caravaggio's character (Jouka Valkama) and his boy lover (Piia Komsi) runs through different scenes of the story.
Instrumentation sopr, cl+bcl+bhn+cl inEb, 2vlc, koto, 2perc, 5dancer
Instrument codes
| Abbreviation | Instrument |
|---|
| Woodwind | |
|---|
| acl | alto clarinet |
| afl | alto flute |
| arec | alto recorder |
| asax | alto saxophone |
| barsax | baritone saxophone |
| barhn | baritone horn |
| bcl | bass clarinet |
| bfl | bass flute |
| bob | bass oboe |
| bsax | bass saxophone |
| bsn | bassoon |
| cbsn | contrabassoon |
| cl | clarinet |
| ehn | English horn |
| fl | flute |
| hn | French horn |
| ob | oboe |
| pic | piccolo |
| rec | recorder |
| sax | saxophone |
| srec | soprano recorder |
| ssax | soprano saxophone |
| trec | tenor recorder |
| tsax | tenor saxophone |
| Brass | |
|---|
| ahn | alto horn |
| atrb | altotrombone |
| barhn | baritone horn |
| btrb | bass trombone |
| cornet | cornet |
| euph | euphonium |
| fhn | flugelhorn |
| hn | French horn |
| tba | tuuba |
| thn | tenor horn |
| trb | trombone |
| trp | trumpet |
| Percussion | |
|---|
| dr | drums |
| glock | glockenspiel |
| mar | marimba |
| perc | percussion |
| timp | timpani |
| vibr | vibraphone |
| xyl | xylophone |
| Strings | |
|---|
| db | double bass |
| gamba | viola da gamba |
| str | strings |
| vla | viola |
| vlc | cello |
| vln | violin |
| Other | |
|---|
| acc | accordion |
| cel | celesta |
| cemb | harpsichord |
| chords | chords |
| elbas | electric bass |
| elg | electric guitar |
| elorg | electric organ |
| elpno | electric piano |
| guit | guitar |
| harm | harmonium |
| hca | harmonica |
| hp | harp |
| instr | instrument |
| kantele | kantele |
| keyb | keyboard |
| live electr | live electronics |
| mand | mandolin |
| mel | melody |
| org | organ |
| pno | piano |
| synth | synthesizer |
| tape | tape |
| Vocal | |
|---|
| alto | alto |
| baryt | baritone |
| basso | bass voice |
| ch | choir |
| chc | childrens choir |
| chf | female choir |
| chm | male choir |
| chx | mixed choir |
| cten | countertenor |
| mezzo | mezzo-soprano |
| sopr | soprano |
| speaker | speaker |
| ten | tenor |
| voc | vocal |
Coding for instrument ensembles and orchestras
| Symphony orchestra | |
|---|
| 2222 4331 11 1, str = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, one other percussionist, harp and strings |
| Wind band | |
|---|
| 2252 3 423 21212 3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 3 saxophones - 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones - 2 cornets, alto horn, 2 tenor horns, baritone horn, 2 tubas - 3 percussionists |
| Big band | |
|---|
| 221 4 4, pno, guit, db, dr = 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, double bass, drums |
| Additional codes | |
|---|
| + | fl+pic = flutist doubles on piccolo |
| / | pno/org = can be played on either piano or organ |
| lib | ad libitum |
| obl | obligato |
| str | str: 65432 = specified number of string players |
| str min | str min: 65432 = at least 65432 |
| str max | str max: 65432 = not more than 65432 |
| solo | vln solo = violin is the solo instrument in a work not obviously for solo violin |
Category Works for the Stage
Lyricist Paola Livorsi and Sara Orava
Premiere
Production: Exit3 company, Helsinki Contemporary Opera Festival 2022. Piia Komsi, voice and cello, Angel Molinos clarinets, Eva Alkula koto, Ville Syriäläinen percussion, Paola Livorsi composer/percussion/sounds, Esther Calderón Morales sound engineer, Sara Orava lavastus, direction, Milla Eloranta coreography/dancer, Jouka Valkama, Anneke Lönnroth, Mira Ollila, Aapo Siikala dancers
Movements Prologue, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
PDF for promotional use Download
Archive number MF34753
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