Scoring an Unfinished Work (Video)

Nicholas Escobar, C'18, took an English class with Zachary Lesser, Professor of English, in his sophomore year that led to his honors thesis: an original score for John Dryden's unfinished 17th-century opera, The State of Innocence, based on Paradise Lost. Under Lesser's guidance, he spent months researching Restoration-era theater and studying contemporary musical productions before beginning to compose. For Nicholas, the Power of Penn Arts & Sciences is the flexibility to combine his love of English and music to create something truly original.