Oedipus rex is an "Opera-oratorio after Sophocles" by Igor Stravinsky, scored for orchestra, speaker, soloists, and male chorus. The libretto, based on Sophocles's tragedy, was written by Jean Cocteau in French and then translated by Abbé Jean Daniélou into Latin; the narration, however, is performed in the language of the audience.
Librettist | Jean Cocteau and Abbé Jean Daniélou (based on Sophocles's tragedy) |
Date of composition | 1927 |
Premiered | 1927, May 30th (Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt (Théâtre de la Ville)) in Paris, France |
Type | Oratorio |
Approx. duration | 50 minutes |
Spoken language | Latin |
Instruments |
Voice (Tenor)
- Oedipus, roi de Thèbes (king of Thebes)
Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Jocasta, Oedipus mère et femme (Oedipus's wife and mother) Voice (Bass-Baritone) - Creon, frère de Jocaste (Jocasta's brother) Voice (Bass) - Tiresias, devin (soothsayer) Voice (Tenor) - Le berge (Shepherd) Voice (Bass-Baritone) - Le messager (Messenger) Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Le narrateur (Narrator) Male Chorus - le peuple, (Men's chorus) |
Autotranslations beta |
Igor Stravinsky: Oedipus rex Igor' Fëdorovič Stravinskij: Oedipus rex Igor Strawinsky: Oedipus rex |