Empedocles
opera in three acts
Music and libretto
Robert Robertson
The elements are eternally identical in their being,
leaping through one another, all things are born of their dislocated unity
Empedocles
Empedocles is a dance opera featuring episodes from the life of the early Greek philosopher,
interwoven with realisations in music and movement of his key ideas.
The philosophy of Empedocles is used to structure the music.
Empedocles is scored for two pianos and double choir.
The two pianos dominate the first part, then they overlap with the choirs,
and they finally disappear, with just the choirs being heard at the end of the opera.
The first two acts show the life and ideas of Empedocles.
The last act shows the four deaths of the philosopher:
by earth, by water, by air (an ascension), and by the fires of Etna
(the most famous of the deaths of Empedocles).
Act 1, Scene 1 Act 2, Scene 1
Act 3, Scene 1 Act 3, Scene 2
Act 3, Scene 3, Act 3, Scene 4
The music/film version of Empedocles was realised in collaboration with the
artist filmmaker Dennis Dracup.
It was premiered at the Whitechapel Gallery in 1995.
Dracup used his idea of a ’choreography of light’ to make the film
and slides on recordings of the music, like a choreographer on a recording of a pre-existing score.
The ideas of Empedocles were also used to structure the visuals,
as well as their interaction with the music.
EMPEDOCLES – music/film version of the dance opera
Music and libretto: Robert Robertson
Film and slides: Dennis Dracup
Pianists: Birgit Rohowsky, Andrew West
Conductor: Levon Parikhian
Music recorded at The Premises Studio, London UK by Dill Katz and Simon Zagorski-Thomas
Empedocles (at different ages): Anthony Dracup, Dennis Dracup, Stephen Dracup, Christopher Jackson,
Robert Robertson
Spoken Voices: Dennis Dracup, Gerald Lopez, Robert Robertson, recorded by Stephen Dracup at The Surgery
Woman in coma: Lorraine Cahill
Midi Choral Realisation Act 1 Scene 2: Javier Alvarez
Act 3 Scenes 3 and 4: Andrew Deakin
Midi Piano Realisation Act 3 Scene 2: Robert Onslow
Text Artwork: Peter Crump
Thanks to Nicola and Alexandra Bibby for the rehearsal pianos.
opera in three acts
Music and libretto
Robert Robertson
The elements are eternally identical in their being,
leaping through one another, all things are born of their dislocated unity
Empedocles
Empedocles is a dance opera featuring episodes from the life of the early Greek philosopher,
interwoven with realisations in music and movement of his key ideas.
The philosophy of Empedocles is used to structure the music.
Empedocles is scored for two pianos and double choir.
The two pianos dominate the first part, then they overlap with the choirs,
and they finally disappear, with just the choirs being heard at the end of the opera.
The first two acts show the life and ideas of Empedocles.
The last act shows the four deaths of the philosopher:
by earth, by water, by air (an ascension), and by the fires of Etna
(the most famous of the deaths of Empedocles).
Act 1, Scene 1 Act 2, Scene 1
Act 3, Scene 1 Act 3, Scene 2
Act 3, Scene 3, Act 3, Scene 4
The music/film version of Empedocles was realised in collaboration with the
artist filmmaker Dennis Dracup.
It was premiered at the Whitechapel Gallery in 1995.
Dracup used his idea of a ’choreography of light’ to make the film
and slides on recordings of the music, like a choreographer on a recording of a pre-existing score.
The ideas of Empedocles were also used to structure the visuals,
as well as their interaction with the music.
EMPEDOCLES – music/film version of the dance opera
Music and libretto: Robert Robertson
Film and slides: Dennis Dracup
Pianists: Birgit Rohowsky, Andrew West
Conductor: Levon Parikhian
Music recorded at The Premises Studio, London UK by Dill Katz and Simon Zagorski-Thomas
Empedocles (at different ages): Anthony Dracup, Dennis Dracup, Stephen Dracup, Christopher Jackson,
Robert Robertson
Spoken Voices: Dennis Dracup, Gerald Lopez, Robert Robertson, recorded by Stephen Dracup at The Surgery
Woman in coma: Lorraine Cahill
Midi Choral Realisation Act 1 Scene 2: Javier Alvarez
Act 3 Scenes 3 and 4: Andrew Deakin
Midi Piano Realisation Act 3 Scene 2: Robert Onslow
Text Artwork: Peter Crump
Thanks to Nicola and Alexandra Bibby for the rehearsal pianos.