The Last Supper

The Last Supper is an opera with music by Sir Harrison Birtwistle to an English and Latin libretto by Robin Blaser. Birtwistle composed the music over the period written in 1998-1999. The world premiere was given by the Berlin State Opera on 18 April 2000, with the production directed by Martin Duncan and conducted by Daniel Barenboim. It was subsequently performed by the Glyndebourne Touring Opera in October/November 2000 and the following summer at the 2001 Glyndebourne Festival. Many of the original cast returned for two concert performances at the Piccolo Teatro Studio Expo, Milan and the Teatro Valdocco, Turin on 4–5 September 2008 with the London Sinfonietta, conducted by Elgar Howarth as part of the Settembre Musica festival. Roles Christ (baritone) Judas (tenor) Ghost (soprano) Little James (countertenor) James (countertenor) Thomas (tenor) Andrew (tenor) Simon (tenor) Bartholomew (tenor) Philip (baritone) John (baritone) Matthew (bass-baritone) Thaddeus (bass) Peter (bass) Choral parts Chorus Mysticus (amplified); 3 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, 3 altos Chorus Resonus (pre-recorded); 3 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, 3 altos Chorus in Visions I-III (pre-recorded); 3 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, 3 altos, 3 tenors, 3 baritones, 3 basses Original cast Christ: William Dazeley Judas: Tom Randle Ghost: Susan Bickley Little James: Stephen Wallace James: Andrew Watts Thomas: Michael Hart-Davis Andrew: Colin Judson Simon: Hilton Marlton Bartholomew: Christopher Lemmings Philip: Adrian Powter John: Andrew Rupp Matthew: Paul Reeves Thaddeus: Simon Kirkbride Peter: Geoffrey Moses