Fool's Paradise
Music by Ofer Ben-Amots · libretto by Ofer Ben-Amots
Fool's Paradise is a chamber opera for children in one act composed by Ofer Ben-Amots with a libretto by the composer based on the short story of the same name by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Though short, the story includes a rich scope of important life experiences such as childhood and adolescence, love, death, resurrection. Ben-Amots did not write the opera with a traditional adult audience in mind. Instead, he looked to inspire and excite children's imaginations. To do so, he argues, one must use "clear simple language and allow for some mystery and magic". To allow for such mystery and magic, Ben-Amots assigned one instrument or group of instruments to each of the seven characters in the opera. However, the instrumentation and story can be appreciated, admired, and enjoyed by adults as well. Because there is such a wide range of instruments used for this opera, a regular symphonic orchestra is not needed. Thus, it is up to the soloist to portray important feelings as well as demonstrate the ability of their instrument. Finally, the message of the story is simply that life is always better than death—that Paradise exists only on earth. Ben-Amots argues that this is an important lesson for both children and adults. The opera premiered at the Odeon theatre in Vienna in November 1994.
Text from the Wikipedia article "Fool", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
About the Composer
Ofer Ben-Amots is the composer of record for this opera.
Text from the Wikipedia article "Ofer Ben-Amots", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.