The Women

The eternal nature of the conflict between a man, his wife and his mother is set into sharp relief by this surreal opera, which places all three characters in the after-life.

 

 

The Women is the first of composer?s triptych of operas that also includes La Divina and Padrevia. A powerful, surrealistic study of the struggle between a man, his wife and his mother. By placing the opera in the ?after life,? the composer-librettist stresses, with utmost simplicity, the eternal nature of the conflict. The first performance took place on August 20, 1965 at The Aspen Music Festival. Vicky Bond, Pamela Kucenic and James Everett were the singers and Leonard Slatkin conducted. The production was staged by Mme. Milhaud and the composer. At this performance it was awarded The Aspen Festival Prize for 1965.

The eternal nature of the conflict between a man, his wife and his mother is set into sharp relief by this surreal opera, which places all three characters in the after-life.

The eternal nature of the conflict between a man, his wife and his mother is set into sharp relief by this surreal opera, which places all three characters in the after-life.