The Cave
The Cave is a multimedia opera in three acts by Steve Reich to an English libretto by his wife Beryl Korot. It was first performed in 1993 in Vienna by the Steve Reich Ensemble, conducted by Paul Hillier. The title "The Cave" refers to The Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, where Abraham and Sarah (and several other major religious figures) are buried.
The Cave of the Patriarchs is of unusual interest in that it is a sacred place where Muslims, Jews and Christians pray. The music and a major part of the libretto in the opera is derived directly from, and includes spoken responses from, Israeli, Palestinian and American interviewees who were asked questions about the story of Abraham. The sound track also includes readings from the religious texts that detail the story of Abraham, and a recording of the ambient sound that is found in the ancient building that surrounds the sacred site.
The opera uses recorded speech as a source for melodies, a technique that Steve Reich first used in the 1988 Different Trains.
Movements
Act 1
- I. Typing Music (Genesis XVI)
- II. Who Is Abraham?
- III. Genesis XII
- IV. Who Is Sarah?
- V. Who Is Hagar?
- VI. Typing Music Repeat
- VII. Who Is Ishmael?
- VIII. Genesis XVIII
- IX. Who Is Isaac?
- X. Genesis XXI
- XI. The Casting Out of Ishmael and Hagar
- XII. Machpelah Commentary
- XIII. Genesis XXV
- XIV. Interior of the Cave
Act 2
- I. Surah 3
- II. Who Is Ibrahim?
- III. Who Is Hajar?
- IV. The Near Sacrifice
- V. El Khalil Commentary
- VI. Interior of the Cave
Act 3
- I. Who is Abraham?
- II. Who is Sarah?
- III. Who is Hagar?
- IV. Who is Ishmael?
- V. The Binding of Isaac
- VI. The Cave of Machpelah