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Labyrinth

Labyrinth is an opera in one act by composer Gian Carlo Menotti. The work was commissioned for television by the NBC Opera Theatre and uses an English language libretto by the composer. Unlike Menotti's previous television operas, such as Amahl and the Night Visitors, this opera was written with no intention of being moved to live stage performance later. Menotti intended for this work to utilize the special effects unique to television which could not be recreated in live theatre. As a result, NBC's television production of the opera was the only performance the work had received until Ventura College mounted a production in June of 2020, directed by Brent Wilson. After its March 3, 1963 broadcast the opera was mainly criticized by the press for its trite use of allegory and music which rejected the avant-garde in favour of romanticism.

Top Cast

  • John Reardon

    John Reardon

    Bridegroom

  • Judith Raskin

    Judith Raskin

    The Bride

  • Elaine Bonazzi

    Elaine Bonazzi

    The Spy

  • Robert White

    Robert White

    The Old Chess Player

  • Beverly Wolff

    Beverly Wolff

    The Executive Director

  • Bob Rickner

    Bob Rickner

    The Executive Director's Secretary

  • Frank Porretta

    Frank Porretta

    The Astronaut

  • Leon Lishner

    Leon Lishner

    Death

  • John West

    John West

    Death's Assistant

Overview

Labyrinth is an opera in one act by composer Gian Carlo Menotti. The work was commissioned for television by the NBC Opera Theatre and uses an English language libretto by the composer. Unlike Menotti's previous television operas, such as Amahl and the Night Visitors, this opera was written with no intention of being moved to live stage performance later. Menotti intended for this work to utilize the special effects unique to television which could not be recreated in live theatre. As a result, NBC's television production of the opera was the only performance the work had received until Ventura College mounted a production in June of 2020, directed by Brent Wilson. After its March 3, 1963 broadcast the opera was mainly criticized by the press for its trite use of allegory and music which rejected the avant-garde in favour of romanticism.

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