Considerations of Cleopatra and the opera (or “sung drama”) Antony & Cleopatra
Libretto adapted by John Adams, Elkhanah Pulitzer and Lucia Scheckner from Shakespeare, Plutarch, Virgil and Dryden. Music by John Adams. “Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety” — William Shakespeare (1564–1616), describing Cleopatra in Antony & Cleopatra" Cleopatra VII (69BCE–30BCE) devoted her life to learning and experimentation; her scholastic interests included science, philosophy, math and linguistics. With an insatiable curiosity that was supported by ample resources in every respect, she became very ambitious, which was of course perceived as a threat by those concerned about her influence and the power she possessed, or could gain, through political......