Substance: The Infinite Spinoza

One-act opera for tenor soloist, six-voice choir, chamber ensemble, and electronics

From dusts to infinity

“SUBSTANCE: The Infinite Spinoza is an opera inspired by the revolutionary thought of Baruch Spinoza and his view of the infinite. Considered one of the key figures of the Enlightenment, Spinoza invented the notion of "substance", a fundamental quality that exists within its own definition, an expression of the infinite without the dogma and hierarchies of organized religion. Spinoza’s views brought him into conflict with the elders of the Jewish community in Amsterdam leading to an accusation of atheism and his excommunication and banishment. SUBSTANCE's breadth of vision incorporates philosophy, video, sound, and music, for an immersive experience. Framing SUBSTANCE will be Spinoza's vocation as lensmaker. The notion of a lens that allows one to see the infinitely microscopic and the infinitely macroscopic will fuel the creation of the staging and set. This framing will also inform the sound design with key words and phrases magnified, analyzed, and likewise transformed into abstract textures as well as returning them from the abstract to the concrete, from the material to the cosmic.” – Elliott Sharp

• Conductor: Petr Kotík
• Choreography: Carolina Arandia
• Light design: Pavla Beranová
• Video design: Janene Higgins