The Tempest

opera in 3 acts

Year

2003

Duration

02:02:00

Category

Opera

Languages

English

Instrumentation

Prospero (high Bar)/Ariel (high S)/Caliban (T)/Miranda (M)/Ferdinand (T)/King (T)/Antonio (T)/Stefano (BBar)/Trinculo (CT)/Sebastian (Bar)/Gonzalo (BBar)/Court: SATB chorus
3(II+III=picc).3(III=ca).3(III in A=bcl).3(III=cbsn) – 4.3.2.btrbn.1 – timp – perc(2/3): glsp/keyboard glsp/crot/handbells/2 tgl/cyms/2 susp.cym/2 whips/2 clappers/shell chimes/sheet metal/metal mcas/ratchet/geophone/4 branches/log drum/anvil/tam-t/3 SD/small BD (or kit BD)/BD – harp (act 3 only) – upright pno – strings (some basses with extensions to B)

Text and credits

Meredith Oakes, after Shakespeare

Commission

Commissioned by the Royal Opera House

Programme notes

The opera The Tempest is inspired by Shakespeare’s play, rather than literally being based on every aspect of it. There are key images from the play as well as new material. From among the play’s many themes and possible interpretations, the opera focusses on the difficulty, and the necessity, of mercy. The libretto uses contemporary vocabulary. Its lines are short, rhythmic and rhymed or semi-rhymed, echoing Shakespeare’s strophic songs more than his blank verse. This choice reflects the play’s magical, ritual, childlike elements, and acknowledges the traditional power of incantation in song. The operatic Prospero is the passionately vengeful man seen in the play, more than the wise disconnected actor also seen there. Despite his near-omnipotence, he finds things out as he goes along, and experiences contradictory emotions to the end.

Reviews

'Lyrical, plangent and at times fiercely dissonant, this ingeniously crafted score characterizes the depths of Prospero’s misery, the mysterious and magical world of the spirits Ariel and Caliban, and the formality of the courts of Milan and Naples.'

The Telegraph (Richard Kosowski), 9 November 2012

'The music rages and roars, or whistles ethereally, leaping from the growl of throaty bass instruments in the nether depths of the orchestra pit to the earsplitting twittering of the sprite Ariel'

The Washington Post (Anne Midgette), 25 October 2012

Availability

Limited edition full score 057153872X, full score 057153838X, vocal score 0571522084 and libretto 0571523374 on sale, full score and parts for hire

Scores and publication

Upcoming performances

No performances found.

Previous performances

21 June 2025 — Staatstheater Kassel (Kassel, Germany) — Germany — Composer
19 June 2025 — Staatstheater Kassel (Kassel, Germany) — Germany — Composer
13 June 2025 — Staatstheater Kassel (Kassel, Germany) — Germany — Composer
11 June 2025 — Staatstheater Kassel (Kassel, Germany) — Germany — Composer
4 June 2025 — Staatstheater Kassel (Kassel, Germany) — Germany — Composer
31 May 2025 — Staatstheater Kassel (Kassel, Germany) — Germany — Composer
17 May 2025 — Staatstheater Kassel (Kassel, Germany) — Germany — Composer
17 May 2024 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
14 May 2024 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
12 May 2024 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
9 May 2024 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
18 November 2022 — Teatro alla Scala (Milan, Lombardy, Italy) — Italy — Composer
15 November 2022 — Teatro alla Scala (Milan, Lombardy, Italy) — Italy — Composer
11 November 2022 — Teatro alla Scala (Milan, Lombardy, Italy) — Italy — Composer
8 November 2022 — Teatro alla Scala (Milan, Lombardy, Italy) — Italy — Composer
5 November 2022 — Teatro alla Scala (Milan, Lombardy, Italy) — Italy — Composer
13 November 2020 — Virtual Online Performance — Composer
6 December 2017 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
9 October 2016 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
13 August 2016 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
1 June 2016 — Hungarian State Opera House (Budapest, Hungary) — Hungary — Composer
28 May 2016 — Hungarian State Opera House (Budapest, Hungary) — Hungary — Composer
25 May 2016 — Hungarian State Opera House (Budapest, Hungary) — Hungary — Composer
21 May 2016 — Hungarian State Opera House (Budapest, Hungary) — Hungary — Composer
19 May 2016 — Hungarian State Opera House (Budapest, Hungary) — Hungary — Composer
21 April 2016 — Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadlers Wells (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
20 April 2016 — Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadlers Wells (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
8 April 2016 — Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole (Metz, Lorraine, France) — France — Composer
18 October 2015 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
16 October 2015 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
12 October 2015 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
27 June 2015 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
24 June 2015 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
21 June 2015 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
18 June 2015 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
14 June 2015 — Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
5 June 2015 — Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadlers Wells (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
4 June 2015 — Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadlers Wells (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
7 February 2014 — Oper Frankfurt (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
1 February 2014 — Oper Frankfurt (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
24 January 2014 — Oper Frankfurt (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
18 January 2014 — Oper Frankfurt (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
11 January 2014 — Oper Frankfurt (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
29 December 2012 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
17 November 2012 — Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center (New York City, NY, USA) (13:00) — USA — Composer, Conductor
14 November 2012 — Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center (New York City, NY, USA) (19:30) — USA — Composer, Conductor
10 November 2012 — Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center (New York City, NY, USA) (13:00) — USA — Composer, Conductor
6 November 2012 — Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center (New York City, NY, USA) (20:00) — USA — Composer, Conductor
3 November 2012 — Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center (New York City, NY, USA) (13:00) — USA — Composer, Conductor
31 October 2012 — Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center (New York City, NY, USA) (19:30) — USA — Composer, Conductor
27 October 2012 — Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center (New York City, NY, USA) (20:30) — USA — Composer, Conductor
23 October 2012 — Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center (New York City, NY, USA) (19:30) — USA — Composer, Conductor
1 August 2012 — Salle Louis-Fréchette, Grand Théâtre de Québec (Québec, QC, Canada) (20:00) — Canada — Composer, Conductor
30 July 2012 — Salle Louis-Fréchette, Grand Théâtre de Québec (Québec, QC, Canada) (20:00) — Canada — Composer, Conductor
28 July 2012 — Salle Louis-Fréchette, Grand Théâtre de Québec (Québec, QC, Canada) (20:00) — Canada — Composer, Conductor
26 July 2012 — Salle Louis-Fréchette, Grand Théâtre de Québec (Québec, QC, Canada) (20:00) — Canada — Composer, Conductor
15 December 2011 — National Opera Studio, Wandsworth (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
14 December 2011 — National Opera Studio, Wandsworth (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
30 November 2010 — National Opera Studio, Wandsworth (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
29 May 2010 — Theater Lübeck (Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) — Germany — Composer
6 May 2010 — Theater Lübeck (Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) — Germany — Composer
21 April 2010 — Theater Lübeck (Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) — Germany — Composer
11 April 2010 — Theater Lübeck (Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) — Germany — Composer
26 March 2010 — Theater Lübeck (Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) — Germany — Composer
21 March 2010 — Theater Lübeck (Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) — Germany — Composer
12 March 2010 — Theater Lübeck (Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) — Germany — Composer
6 February 2010 — No Venue (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
29 January 2010 — No Venue (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
23 January 2010 — No Venue (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
17 January 2010 — No Venue (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
15 January 2010 — No Venue (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
10 January 2010 — No Venue (Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
28 November 2009 — St John's Smith Square (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
3 July 2009 — Benedict Music Tent (Aspen, CO, USA) — USA — Composer
16 May 2009 — Het Concertgebouw (Amsterdam, Netherlands) — Netherlands — Composer
22 April 2008 — National Opera Studio, Wandsworth (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
23 June 2007 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
26 March 2007 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
23 March 2007 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
20 March 2007 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
17 March 2007 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
15 March 2007 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
12 March 2007 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
17 August 2006 — No Venue (Santa Fe, NM, USA) — USA — Composer
11 August 2006 — No Venue (Santa Fe, NM, USA) — USA — Composer
2 August 2006 — No Venue (Santa Fe, NM, USA) — USA — Composer
29 July 2006 — No Venue (Santa Fe, NM, USA) — USA — Composer
1 December 2005 — Copenhagen Opera House, Copenhagen — Denmark — Composer, Conductor
29 November 2005 — Copenhagen Opera House, Copenhagen — Denmark — Composer, Conductor
22 November 2005 — Copenhagen Opera House, Copenhagen — Denmark — Composer, Conductor
19 November 2005 — Copenhagen Opera House, Copenhagen — Denmark — Composer, Conductor
15 November 2005 — Copenhagen Opera House, Copenhagen — Denmark — Composer, Conductor
12 November 2005 — Copenhagen Opera House, Copenhagen — Denmark — Composer, Conductor
12 October 2004 — No Venue (Mulhouse, Alsace, France) — France — Composer
9 October 2004 — No Venue (Mulhouse, Alsace, France) — France — Composer
3 October 2004 — No Venue (Strasbourg, Alsace, France) — France — Composer
1 October 2004 — No Venue (Strasbourg, Alsace, France) — France — Composer
26 September 2004 — No Venue (Strasbourg, Alsace, France) — France — Composer
24 September 2004 — No Venue (Strasbourg, Alsace, France) — France — Composer
20 February 2004 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
18 February 2004 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
18 February 2004 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
16 February 2004 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
14 February 2004 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:00) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
12 February 2004 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor
10 February 2004 — Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) (19:30) — United Kingdom — Composer, Conductor

Recordings

Æther — 2021 — Alpha Classics (ALPHA781)
Ian Bostridge autograph — 2015 — Warner Classics (0825646081493)
The Tempest — 2013 — Deutsche Grammophon (B0019028-09)
Opera 2012 — 2012 — Virgin Classics (50999 0 70954 2 9)
Classical 2011 — 2010 — EMI Classics (50999 6 40506 2 1; 6 40506 2)

All recordings of this composition