The opera exists in two versions. Martinů wrote the original version from 1954 to 1957. He offered this original version of the opera in 1957 to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where the music director, Rafael Kubelík, and the general administrator, David Webster, had approved the score for production. However, following intervention by Sir Arthur Bliss, the company then demurred on the production and did not stage the work at the time.
| Librettist | Bohuslav Martinů (Based on Jonathan Griffin's translation of the novel The Greek Passion (or Christ Recrucified) by Nikos Kazantzakis.) |
| Date of composition | 1957 (1954-1957; 2nd version in 1959) |
| Premiered | 1961, June 9th (Zurich Opera) in Zürich, Switzerland |
| Type | Opera |
| Catalogue | H 372 |
| Spoken language | English |
| Instruments |
Voice (Tenor)
- Manolios, a shepherd
Voice (Soprano) - Katerina, a young widow Voice (Tenor) - Panait, Katerina's lover Voice (Bass-Baritone) - Grigoris, priest of Lycovrissi Voice (Bass-Baritone) - Fotis, priest of the refugees Voice (Tenor) - Yannakos, a pedlar Voice (Baritone) - Kostandis, a café owner Voice (Soprano) - Lenio, betrothed to Manolios Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Ladas, an old miser Voice (Bass-Baritone) - The Patriacheas, an elder Voice (Tenor) - Michelis, son of the Patriacheas Voice (Soprano) - Nikolios, a young shepherd Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Andonis, a barber Voice (Contralto) - An old woman Voice (Baritone) - A voice in the crowd Voice (Soprano) - Despinio, a refugee Voice (Bass) - An old man, a refugee Chorus/Choir - Villagers, refugees |
| Autotranslations beta |
Bohuslav Martinů: The Greek Passion, H 372 Bohuslav Martinů: The Greek Passion, H 372 Bohuslav Martinů: The Greek Passion, H 372 |