The Medium – The Haunted Mind, a Journey Through Identity

Written in 1981 by Peter Maxwell Davies, The Medium is an a cappella opera for solo voice. Though the narrative centers on a spiritualist séance in a marketplace, the work’s true focus lies in the protagonist’s emotional and identity struggles. Her downfall becomes a powerful metaphor: is she truly in contact with supernatural forces, or haunted by her own past?

In this interpretation, the action unfolds within a theatre dressing room, giving the piece a new dimension. The setting draws a parallel between the protagonist’s introspection and that of the artist: what does it mean to inhabit a role? Where does the self end and the character begin? This mise en abyme invites existential reflection — who am I really? Am I shaped only by my past, or can I redefine myself?

The vocal treatment mirrors these questions. Alone and vulnerable, the voice becomes the reflection of the protagonist’s troubled psyche, while the multiple and dissonant layers of sound introduce ambiguity, blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion.

Beyond the supernatural, The Medium delves into themes of deception, identity, and transformation within a haunting atmosphere. It becomes an artistic and psychological quest, probing the delicate frontier between performer and character, illusion and inner truth.