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Music Text

Libretto by the composer after Aeschylus (G)

Scoring

M,A,2T,2Bar,2B; small male chorus; female chorus;
1.picc.1.1.corA.1.bcl.1.dbn-4.3.4.0-perc-pft-strings

Abbreviations (PDF)

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes / Bote & Bock

Availability

World Premiere
12/09/1959
Kassel
Company: Unknown

Roles

PROMETHEUS Baritone
HEPHAISTOS Tenor
OKEANOS Bass
IO Mezzo Soprano
HERMES Tenor
CHOIR MISTRESS Contralto
POWER and VIOLENCE, Zeus's assistants Baritone, Bass
OKEANIDES
Time and Place

Barren rocks in mythical times

Synopsis



Reluctantly Hephaistos follows Zeus’s instruction and forges Prometheus to the rock for bringing fire to mankind. Okeanos advises Prometheus to yield to the power of the father of the gods in order to get his mercy. But Prometheus will not yield. He recounts to the Okeanides what he has done for mankind. Then Io appears, also punished by Zeus and doomed to restless hurrying through the world. The promise says she will bear a son, and one of his offspring shall break the power of the father of the gods. Prometheus sneers at Hermes, who has come to learn who that highflying descendant will be. Prometheus sinks – with an unbroken spirit – into Tartarus.

Moods

Dramatic, Tragic

Subjects
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