When Human Emotion Meets Technology. A Study of Machover’s “Death and the Powers”, the Robot Opera

Abstract

A vast palette of artistic experiences remains purposely unexplored today by many performers of traditionally oriented opera companies. Ignorance is often the cause of statements such as the absence of melody, emotions, and difficulty in communicating with the audience in the new operatic repertoire. My study offers an assessment: that melody can be identified in the most unusual musical architecture of today’s composed opera; and that emotional delivery and communication in the singing art occur still through text, audio-visual, and now, as never before, through technology. In order to demonstrate this I have chosen one single opera, perhaps the newest, but certainly the most innovative of the 21st century, a masterpiece, that has been in the spotlight since its premiere in 2010 and whose music, libretto, and performing production may seem controversial to some of the traditional-oriented performers and audiences. It is Tod Machover’s Death and the Powers, the Robot opera. The article also highlights the importance of sustaining innovation in the opera as a need to naturally adapt to the new conduct of life.