The story of All in the Mind is drawn from the Faust legend of medieval times, which, of course, concerns the learned Doctor who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for magical powers.

If we substitute scientific knowledge for magic – and much of what we can do today would appear magical to people of the past – we see how this story is still relevant to our own times. Science has brought us much that would delight the devil - destructive weapons, pollution and media manipulation, for a start - yet opting out of this knowledge is not an option; we must use it creatively, for purposes that are good and, paradoxically, to get us out of the various muddles that science itself will lead us into.

It is evident that technological progress has brought with it a high degree of predictability in our lives. We have tamed nature to the extent that in Western civilisation, the fulfilment of our needs is taken for granted. On the White Moon, where it is always day and never night, even human life itself is predictable because it is cloned. Knowledge, isolated in human cells, is implanted to order. A giant Brain functions as a central source of reference. This is a vision of the future that is absurd. Or is it?

Is life on the White Moon immoral? The state ensures its citizens are well catered for. The employees of Clever Clones evidently care about their company for they know of no life outside it. They have, we might say, sold their souls to it. The process of cloning is taken for granted: it is so much more convenient for citizens to take delivery of a ready-made person than having to contend with the unpredictability of birth and raising children. Clever Clones sorts that all out for its customers! But how often, in modern life, are questionable practices excused by the observation that the demand exists, therefore they must somehow be right? Want becomes need becomes okay if not actually good.

Just as certain dictators have lived in luxury while their subjects starved, so the Emperor is free to be inventive while his people live as automatons. When Clever Clones Corporation crashes, the Scientists can’t think what to do. So the Emperor’s plan to rescue the company seems a brilliant one: resurrect Ancient Earthlings from the ‘files’ they bequeathed to posterity. Despite the clinical circumstances of their re-birth, the Earthlings are seen to be truly human and everyone likes them; they are antiques. The irony is that the Emperor has sown the seeds of his own destruction, for the arrival of the Earthlings set the Scientists off on a course that will lead them to the truth. And the truth is that the Emperor serves another world, another universe even. Under his mask of geniality, he is dangerous.

In the Black Hole, the laws of space, time and gravity combine in a world that isn’t so much absurd as surreal. A sense of impending doom permeates the proceedings. The Earthlings have been naïve to follow the Emperor; they receive veiled warnings from the Bouncers, but are too caught up in the fun of their new life to understand. We meet Nic who appears to be resigned to his own oblivion, but when he hears the Earthlings sing about their previous life on Earth he is moved by their humanity, frailty, warmth, and passion, even. This is exactly what the Emperor wants; it is now time to take their souls into the next world, and whereas some gods call on thunder or fire to do their dirty work, Rich summons up gravity. Everyone appears to perish in the crush. Only Nic has a lucky escape, and is pulled out of the wreckage when the Scientists arrive on the scene.

When Nic returns to the White Moon a balance is restored and humanity returns in the form of diversity, inventiveness - and music. First the people have to agree to this, and it is the departure of the Earthlings that sets the seal on the Emperor’s downfall. They are confused – as we are – whether the Black Hole was real or just dreamt about; either way, it’s an experience that serves as a warning. The only thing that is true for the Earthlings now is their past and that’s where they head off to. It’s the past, which we feel and permeates our consciousness, and ultimately, of course, the future is meaningless because we can’t relate to it. It’s unknown, it’s dangerous, and we need rescuing from the brink. Scientific progress propels us forwards, but if there is any hope for mankind surely it lies in – scientific progress. Think on until the end of time!

Meanwhile, the Brain has considered the question of good and evil in relation to ‘cleverness’ and progress. But knowing about Ethics won’t save it from the eventual fate of most inventions - obsolescence. Can it be appreciated in a Museum? At least it can remember this story.

(composer's note)