Stewart Copeland: Oratorio

“Morel’s rhythmically hypnotic score greatly validates him as a classical composer to reckon with”
(Opera News about The Invention of Morel)

Stewart Copeland has spent more than three decades at the forefront of contemporary music as rock star and acclaimed opera composer as well as film, ballet, and world and chamber music. An extension of Copeland’s incredible talent, successful explorations into other formats have helped him create a prolific body of work, including many operatic works.

Satan’s Fall

In the vast 17^th century epic of John Milton’s Paradise Lost there lives a story within the story. It concerns the essential prequel to the sacred tale: Why did Satan do it?

How and why does Almighty God have an adversary? We get an answer in Books V and VI where we learn of Satan’ journey to the dark side and of the mighty battle that cast him out of heaven.

The story is told by the archangels Raphael and Raphaella, accompanied by the choir in various configurations. God, Satan and Messiah are big solo singing roles. The dramaturgy can be illustrated by projections of the fantastic images by Blake, Dore and others. These paintings are so specific (and magnificent) that the singers can pretty much stand and deliver.

SATAN'S FALL trailer

“This is Copeland’s fifth opera (he is also credited as co-librettist), and he has his chops in place. The 87-minute score has the feel and flow of opera spiked by occasional pastiches of rhumbas or ‘20s jazz and a minimum of rock.”

(THE LA TIMES ABOUT THE INVENTION OF MOREL)

“It’s no surprise coming from the guy who got the No. 10 spot on Rolling Stone’s list of 100 greatest drummers of all time that, in “The Invention of Morel,” the drum parts are awesome — they are the incessant heartbeat of the opera.”

(CULTURE SPOT LA ABOUT THE INVENTION OF MOREL)

Moema Parrott