John Hancorn in discussion with Ed Hughes and Sir John Tomlinson, Depot Cinema, Lewes, 17.9.2024, on States of Innocence
States of Innocence (Opera, 2024) Perusal Score
Duration 85’
Principals: Soprano (Eve’s Image); Mezzo-soprano (Eve); Counter-tenor (Adam); Tenor (Assistant); Bass (Milton)
Chorus: SSAA
Ensemble: Flute (pic); Clarinet; Bass Clarinet; Violin; Viola; Cello; Piano
States of Innocence is a new opera after Paradise Lost by composer Ed Hughes and Peter Cant (theatre maker and writer). It premiered at the Brighton Festival on Sunday 19 May 2024 in the Corn Exchange in performances with celebrated opera bass soloist Sir John Tomlinson, and a cast of acclaimed singers from the opera world.
John Milton can no longer see. He is composing his poem ‘Paradise Lost’, dictating it to his assistant, wife, daughters and readers. At first they are beguiled by the poem’s beauty, breadth and command. But as they give voice to his characters they begin to rebel against their fates. As the author attempts to ‘justify the ways of God to men’ his characters defend what it means to be human, powerful yet fallible and vulnerable to love and loss.
Milton: Sir John Tomlinson CBE
Assistant/Satan: Thomas Elwin
Wife/Eve: Rozanna Madylus
Adam: Matthew Farrell
Eve's Image: Rachel Duckett
Chorus of Readers: Billie Robson, Zofia Reeves, Liz Webb, Natasha Stone
Stage Director: Tim Hopkins
Projection Design: Ian Winters
Projection Assistant: Evelyn Ficarra
Production Assistants: Robbie Hughes & Tasmin Lee
New Music Players Flute: Karen Jones Clarinet: Fiona Cross Bass Clarinet: Alison Hughes Violin: Susanne Stanzeleit Viola: Bridget Carey Cello: Andrew Fuller Piano: Ben-San Lau
Conductor: Andrew Gourlay
Libretto: Peter Cant
Composer: Ed Hughes
Producer: Liz Webb
Film and recording by Classical Media
Overture. Night. John Milton dreams. Though blind, his dreams are visited by intense images, including Satan's fall, and Eve's first breath in Paradise, guided by the Muse, the 'inward eye'.
1. Supplication. Milton’s home, in the years (1663-67) following the Restoration. The chorus are his daughters, visitors and readers. The chorus reflect on Cromwell's death, the restoration of the crown, and Milton's 'light denied'.
2. The Household. Morning. Milton rings for his daughters, his Wife and his Assistant. He dictates urgently, in response to the visions of the night. The night's evil is dispersed, as 'light dispels the dark', in favour of visions of Nature. Milton urges his wife to read from Paradise Lost.
3. Eve's Awakening. The Wife's reading leads to her enacting Eve - Wife becomes 'Eve'. The scene becomes dream-like and Wife-Eve is answered by Eve's Image and they are drawn to one another.
4. Adam's Account. Milton voices Adam. Milton asks whether Eve is less 'exact', less perfect than Adam. Eve's Image reminds Milton that in another tradition God created man in God's own image, 'Male-and-female'. Milton discloses the one prohibition - not to taste the fruit from the tree of knowledge.
5. Satan's Entrance Into Paradise. Assistant addresses the audience as Satan. He is conflicted by recognition of bliss and beauty, and his desire to cause ruin. Eve's Image comments and asks whether Eve and Adam ever knew enough to avoid the Fall.
6. The Hour of Night. Milton and Wife/Eve contemplate the stars. Wife/Eve asks why make such a 'glorious sight' if we are to shut our eyes to it through sleep. Assistant/Satan determines to excite their minds with the desire to know more.
7. Perdition. Another morning. Milton rings his bell. Milton and Assistant review the poem, and ask why temptation and the Fall happened. Milton now sees Assistant as Satan and attacks him. Assistant/Satan resolves to attack God by destroying Eden.
8. Interlude. The indifferent and violent music of the spheres (representing the solar system for which Adam expressed fascination and a desire to know more).
9. Creation. Milton voices God and now creates Adam. Adam's first act is to awake Eve. Eve's Image intervenes and argues that Eve is the last and best of all God's works - and asserts the need to speak for Eve, because Eve is not otherwise allowed to speak without assuming blame. Eve's Image contests the creation myth in Genesis and argues for equality. Meanwhile, Wife/Eve and Adam are in the Garden and decide to work separately, giving Assistant/Satan an opportunity.
10. The Hour of Noon. Assistant/Satan tempts Wife/Eve. Wife/Eve reveals that she knows precisely what is going on and makes her decision in that light. Assistant/Satan expresses sorrow and admiration for Eve. Eve's Image echoes this.
11. Original Sin. Wife/Eve and Adam lament the situation. After hesitating, Adam determines also to choose mortality in order stay with Eve. Eve's Image rates Eve higher than Adam.
12. Banishment. Milton voices God and drives the humans out of Paradise. Adam and Eve express regret but acceptance. The Assistant and Eve's Image look into the future. Milton closes the story.
Resources
Still image 1 by Ian Winters (projection designer)
