“The libretto John Aylward wrote for his opera, packed as the narrative is with mystery and revelations, is as gripping as the score.”
“Oblivion is a distinctive work, obviously; even better, the modest number of vocalists and musicians needed to perform it make it an all the more feasible piece for smaller opera companies to present” — Textura
“Aylward is an imaginative and resourceful talent” — Gramophone
New England Public Media’s Interview and Broadcast.
Two wanderers in a surreal and otherworldly landscape question their memory and identity? What do they remember of their lives? What paths will they travel? Will they find redemption or the truth of who they are?
Oblivion explores the afterlife, in all its spiritual, mythological, and existential aspects, and its similarities to our current conceptions of a post-apocalyptic world. The original libretto draws its mythos from Dante’s Purgatorio and the Book of Daniel while keeping the drama in an eerily familiar space.
Cast:
A Wanderer | Soprano
A Wanderer | Baritone
The Bound Man | Tenor
The Hunter | Baritone
Ensemble:
Viola, Cello, Contrabass,
Electric Guitar, Electronics.
