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Blitzstein, Marc
Parabola and Circula
(1929)Opera in one act
Duration: 60 minutes
English
Deutsch
Music Text
Libretto by George Whitsett (E)
Scoring
2S,A,2T,Bar,BBar; dancers;
3(III=picc).3(III=corA).3(III=bcl).3(III=dbn)-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(1):BD/cyms/SD/tamb/celes/xyl/jingle bells/tgl/wdbl-2harp-cel-strings
Abbreviations (PDF)
Publisher
Boosey & Hawkes
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes
for the world.
Availability
World Premiere
21/09/2025Philharmonie, Berlin
Aleksander Nohr, Parabola / Mari Eriksmoen, Circula / Matthew Newlin, Rectangula / Hanna Husáhr, Intersecta / Linard Vrielink, Prism
Conductor: Karl-Heinz Steffens
Company: Henning von Schulmann, Geodesa / Hongni Wu, Linea / Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
Roles
| PARABOLA | Baritone |
| CIRCULA | Soprano |
| RECTANGULA, their adopted son | Tenor |
| INTERSECTA, their adopted daughter | Soprano |
| PRISM | Tenor |
| LINEA | Alto |
| GEODESA | Bass-baritone |
| Ballet | (group – two solo dancers) |
Synopsis
The couple Parabola and Circula, the parents of Rectangula and Intersecta, find themselves in an existential crisis. The trigger is – not unlike in Wagner's Lohengrin – doubt: Parabola asks his friends Prism, Line and Geodesy for their opinion on Circula. Their verdict: love is robbing Parabola of his independence and is having a paralysing effect on the spirit of modernity. Doubt gnaws at Parabola and gives birth to a black projectile that kills the circle.
Subjects