Oedipus (1954)

Original id: 
9500
Start date: 
11 September 1954
Production notes: 
Grove Music Online states that Partch originally used W. B. Yeats' translation for his libretto, and it was with this text that the work was first heard as King Oedipus in 1952 (ID 9499). Partch had already prepared a musical outline by 1934, and in that year secured the poet’s approval in Dublin. The project could not be realized until 1951, however, and after the 1952 performances he found that the Yeats estate would not permit a recording; accordingly, he prepared a new libretto from non-copyright sources, modernizing and Americanizing the language, and revised the score. This version was first performed in 1954 (ID 9500). In 1967 Partch further revised the score, modifying the instrumentation.
Media of production: 
Opera, musical and related genres
Languages: 
English
Companies:
Ancient works:

Information related to this production

Person Role Notes
Harry Partch (1901-1974) Librettist
Harry Partch (1901-1974) Composer
Venue Festival Dates Notes
Shell Beach (Sausalito, State of California, United States) 10 September, 1954
Source Format Location if held at the APGRD Pagination
Grove Music Online Website New Grove Opera: s.v. Partch, Harry

How to cite this production

Oedipus (1954), accessed at http://www.apgrd.ox.ac.uk/productions/production/9500 <26 April 2024>