An Oratorio by Tim Hinck
libretto by Kip Soteres & Tim Hinck
“Imagine what the world must look like to God: a tiny spit of earth in a vast ocean of black space. Imagine what the world must look like to Eve, who having eaten of the Tree of Life, can never die; Eve, mother of all humans, surrounded by her children yet completely apart, different. She didn’t have a mother of her own. She wouldn’t even have a belly button. Everyone has a story about how it all began. History is just stories, but if you ask Eve to tell her side of the story, what might she tell?”
Based on the Jewish tradition of the Haggada, or scriptural commentary and embellishments, Eve Apart is a retelling of the Biblical creation story through the lens of mystical texts such as the Kabbalah and the Midrash. These texts include references to other “Eves” who were created for Adam, but were dismissed as inadequate. Eve Apart is an oratorio that can be semi-staged and augmented with video projection and light design as desired for a specific style of production. An early version of Eve Apart was premiered in Pittsburgh, PA in 2015; and subsequent performances have been presented in staged and concert versions.
duration: 65 minutes
Cast:
Eve – Coloratura Mezzo A3-Ab5
Adam – Lyric Baritone F2-F4
Serpent – Tenor (Musical Theatre) D3-A4
Lilith – Dramatic Mezzo G3-G5
Nameless Second – Lyric Coloratura Soprano C4-G5
Chorus: minimum 12 persons (24+ preferred)
Orchestra:
Flutes I & II (doubling piccolo)
Oboes I & II
Clarinets in I (Bb) & II (A)
Bassoons I & II (doubling contra)
Horns in F I,II, & III
Trumpets in Bb I & II
Trombone
Tuba
Full String Section
Timpani
Percussion I, II & III
Guitar
Piano
Preview Clips (from 2019 workshop concert performance featuring the University of Tennessee Chamber Singers, The Figment Chamber Ensemble, Sara Snider Schone & Ivy Roberts (sopranos), Thomas West (baritone), and Michael Marin-Howard (tenor):
Eve, before her legions of descendants, as they persuade her to tell the story of creation:
Adam reliving the moment of seeing the world’s first childbirth:
The heart-wrenching finale at which Eve accepts blame for her shortcomings, shoulders her curse, and prays for a small portion of peace:
Eve and Adam step into their memories of the enchanting Garden of Eden:
An early production of Eve Apart (directed by Garrett Henson), Eve (Desiree Soteres) encounters the Serpent (Donovan Smith) for the first time in this haunting aria:
In the present, Eve, Adam, and the Serpent are still alive, having eaten of the Tree of Life, and they spend their time arguing over the fate of humankind:
The large trio that undergirds the third scene:
The Serpent’s music is heavily influenced by Jazz and more contemporary sounds: