The impetus of this work was from Sylvia Plath’s poem A Lesson in Vengeance, a firework display of words and syllabus; of bombastic and pompous yet intimate and imaginative. I have always been interested in the state of mind that drives people to do what they believe and put into actions. A state of mind for vengeance that slowly creeps into lives and caused hurt and harm, which the words of Sylvia Plath’s weave into sounds and rhythm peeping into this state of being. 
It is with what described above that I am inspired to compliment with my musical language to provide a soundscape for that musical wordplay. Since vengeance starts with “V” which in Roman numeral means 5, I loosely divided this work into 5 small sections or “acts”. Each section begins and ends with a movement from off stage to onstage. There are also 5 performers for this piece. The work also alternates between regular time signature of 4/4 and Senza Tempo which means free meter, using time and movements as guide. 
The poem has such implosive quality that I find it appropriate to compose a simpler sounding work to balance up. The space between language and human voice, the tension between sound from musical instrument and human voice in speaking, congruently conveying an idea of mind in a state of discord, is what excites me in starting out to compose this work


The Unfathomable Being of Vengeance Spiral in the Existential Light of Nucleus

Singapore Symphony Orchestra (dir. Jason Lai) and Elise Chauvin, recorded live 02March2018 by Dominik Streicher

Aiya - Bloody hijack ending

for 12/13 instruments
Klangforum Wien (dir. Enno Poppe)

Diana Soh Originals

iota

Recording of Size Zero Opera's performance in Singapore October 25, 2012. 

Soprano: Laura Bowler
Baritone: John Savourin
Director: Jonathan Mann
Stage Direction: Richard Fitch
Costumes: Fly Davis
Text: Jamie Currie
Music: Diana Soh

*photo taken by Fly Davis from previous production in London

The Unfathomable Being of Vengeance Spiral in the Existential Light of Nucleus

Lee Kah Hong Bernard

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