Sequenza21/The Contemporary Classical Music Weekly

John Adams to Write
Dr. Atomic for SF Opera

John Adams has been commissioned by the San Francisco Opera to compose a work about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist largely credited with the creation of the first atomic bomb, at Los Alamos, N.M., in the 1940s.

"Doctor Atomic" is the working title of the new two-act opera, which will make its world premiere in an S.F. Opera production during the company's 2005-06 season. The commission will mark general director Pamela Rosenberg's first world premiere with S.F. Opera and will be presented as part of Rosenberg's "Animating Opera" Faust project, which was announced in January 2000.

The commission reunites the creative team of Adams, librettist Alice Goodman and stage director Peter Sellars. The three previously collaborated on Adams' "Nixon in China," which premiered at Houston Grand Opera in 1987; and "The Death of Klinghoffer," an S.F. Opera co-commission that premiered in Brussels in 1991 and received its West Coast premiere in San Francisco in 1992.

Donald Runnicles will conduct the new production, which is being co-produced by Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The chief characters have not yet been cast. Oppenheimer will be a baritone, and other characters include Edward Teller (bass-baritone), Kitty Oppenheimer (mezzo-soprano), Mici Teller (high mezzo-soprano), Elsie McMillan (high soprano) and a triple tenor role: Sen. Hickenlooper, King Juda of the Bikini Islands and Edwin McMillan.

Commenting on the new work, Adams said: "I'm interested in using in part the structure of the 1950s science fiction movie.

"These events were played out during a time when all those movies about bombs and monsters and strange genetic mutations were very popular, and they invaded the consciousness, the unconsciousness, of the country. That's why I chose the title, because it had a certain '50s, sci-fi resonance."

John Adams Web Site

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