Original id:
8103
Start date:
21 June 1982
Degree of relationship to ancient play:
unknown
Production notes:
A setting of lines from Aeschylus' Persians. From OUP description: 'A Kommos is a lament or dirge in Greek tragedy. In the closing scene of Aeschylus' The Persians, written only eight years after the events it portrays, Xerxes enters the Persian Court, his robes torn in mourning, confirming the news that the Persians have experienced a terrible defeat at the naval battle of Salamis and bewailing the vast numbers of men and ships and of national honour. I have used portions from the Greek text of the play to form the piece into three sections: the entry of Xerxes with the news, the calling of the names of famous warriors and the closing lament. Xerxes is sung by the tenor and the three other verses form the chorus.'
Media of production:
Orchestral and incidental music