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Adapa, the creature that rises up from the sea in the 4,000 year-old Akkadian myth, moves between Earth and Heaven throughout the opera. Earth symbolizes our lives in which the power of fertility and processes of thought dominate, whereas Heaven reflects eternity. After Adapa has risen up to Heaven where he is offered the foodstuffs of eternity – which he refuses – he descends to Earth. At the end of the opera he copulates with the South Wind, the feminine force which, at the beginning of the opera, he had opposed so vigorously.
Fleischer sums up the message of her new opera: ”We have not gained eternity. Death is the radiance illuminating our lives throughout our existence, kindling the spark so that our existence shines as brightly as possible”.
The protagonists of the opera, in addition to Adapa (counter tenor) are mythical creatures in the guise of gods and natural forces; soloists and choruses perform the roles of the protagonists musically (for example, Earth – mixed choir, South Wind – women’s choir, the God of the Sea and the God of Heaven – soloists).
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