The Making Of The Representative For Planet 8 is a full-scale opera by Philip Glass with a libretto by Doris Lessing.

The opera was co-commisioned by English National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam and Theater Kiel, and co-produced with Artpark, Lewiston, New York State.

Performance history

The opera was first performed at Houston Grand Opera on July 8, 1988. The British premiere was November 9, 1988 by English National Opera at the London Coliseum. This production was broadcast live in the UK on Radio 3 on December 13, 1988. Unfortunately, due to a technical fault, scene four from Act III was not broadcast.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, 8 July 1988 (Conductor: Michael Lloyd)
Doeg Memory-maker and Storyteller		Andrew Shore
Johor Canopean agent		Richard Angas
Klin Tender of Fruits and Plants		Gillian Webster
Marl Keeper of the Herds		Simon Masterton-Smith
Bratch Guardian of Health		Tamsin Dives
Pedug Teacher of the Young		John Kitchiner
Rivalin Custodian of the Lake		Jady Pearl
Masson the Builder		Peter Bamber
Alsi a young woman		Lesley Garrett
Nooni a young man		Christopher Gillett

Synopsis

The people of Planet 8 are peaceful and content, until one of the Canopean Agents arrives and tells them to prepare for an impending ice age. The embattled population fights courageously in the face of certain death, and their efforts are transformed when they become the one single 'representative' of the planet's people and culture.

Recordings

Unlike many of Philip Glass's other operas, Planet 8 has not been recorded for CD sale.

References

• Dedicated page on the official web site of Philip Glass