2000 - Pandora's Box: The Music of Aaron Jay Kernis

The Victor Performance Ensemble's program for the 2000 season is Pandora's Box, the music of Aaron Jay Kernis.

This years program is based on the Greek myth of Pandora's Box as written by the Greek orator Hesiod.

The myth states that Zeus gave Pandora a box that was never to be opened. Pandora's husband (representing mankind) could not contain his curiosity and opens the box, releasing the three plagues of mankind, Chaos, Mischief, and Anger into the world. Only Hope remains inside the Box.

The audience represented mankind, just opening the box represented by a tan floor. The members of the Victor Performance Ensemble represented the three plagues of mankind. Each member moves out of the tan floor representing each plague being released further and further into the world.

The program will takes the audience though each plague of mankind: Chaos, Mischief, then Anger. In the end, all three plagues are demonstrated in unison. As the program draws to a close, the members are released into the world by actually leaving the performance floor. As they disappear, only Hope remains.

Are you ready to open the box?