EVA (A BALLET IN THREE ACTS FOR ORCHESTRA, SOLO VIOLIN AND SATB CHORUS) op.481 (March 1996)

The story of 'everywoman' choreographed by Robert North for Gothenburg Opera House
Published by: Highbridge Music Ltd
Commissioned by: Gothenburg Opera House
Instrumentation: 2222cbsn 4420 4pc - harp - piano/cel - strings
[Key to Abbreviations]
Note on Lyrics: Scenario by Robert North and Howard Blake
Duration: 90 mins
First Performance: March 8th 1996 Gothenburg Opera House Orchestra and Chorus conducted by the composer. Solo Violin Katerina Andreasson
(March 8,12,13,14)
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Movements

  • 1: ACT 1 BIRTHRITE 35 minutes 00 seconds
    'Foedelserit'

    Music composed and orchestrated specially for the ballet

  • 2: ACT 2 35 minutes 00 seconds
    A woman's life

    Violin Concerto 1st movement/Adagio from 'A Month in the Country'/excerpt Piano Quartet/excerpt Toccata

  • 3: ACT 3 24 minutes 00 seconds
    Death and beyond

    Slow movement of Violin Concerto/Excerpt Part 3 of 'Benedictus' for chorus and orchestra

Notes

The score consisted of both original and existing music, using passages from the Violin Concerto, Benedictus, Piano Quartet and Toccata

Performances

7th November 2009 Antalya State Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Hakan Kalkan., Haşim İşcan Kültür Merkesi ( Haşim İşcan Cultural Center),Antalya, Turkey

Acts Two and Three of the ballet by Robert North/Howard Blake performed with full orchestra, solo violin and SATB chorus (20 performances scheduled over 5 seasons)

Reviews


Howard Blake has created hauntingly original music. His style is tonally rich, dramatic, rhythmically focussed. The orchestra sounds marvellous under his baton.

Svenska Dagbladet, 11/3/1996


Howard Blake's music takes the leading role in this ballet. It is imaginative, finely balanced and beautiful to listen to...

Gothenburg Post, 10/3/1996


The ballet is as much Howard Blake's triumph as North's. His score daringly carries us to the heights that he and North have chosen to venture upon. By any standards on the world stage of dance anywhere this is a major achievement.

Nicholas Dromgoole, The Sunday Telegraph, 1996

Related Works


'PIANO QUARTET' op.179 (January 1974) (Audio Sample Available)
Concert work in four movements
'BENEDICTUS' op.282 (May 1980) (Audio Sample Available)
Dramatic oratorio for tenor, speaker, chorus, solo viola and orchestra
'TOCCATA-A CELEBRATION OF THE ORCHESTRA' op.386 (May 1988) (Audio Sample Available)
Concerto for orchestra, revised version of 'Toccata'
'VIOLIN CONCERTO (THE LEEDS)' op.441 (July 1992) (Audio Sample Available)
Concerto for violin and orchestra

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