Philomel
dramatic song cycle
EXCERPT - V. Tereus Chases the Sisters (03:07)
music and text by Justine F. Chen (inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses)
Performed live by Jennifer Zetlan, David Shimoni/piano.
Click here for complete cycle
synopsis:
Philomel is raped and locked away in a hut with her tongue cut out by her treacherous brother-in-law Tereus. After sending a tapestry she had woven telling the terrible story to her sister Procne, Philomel is rescued by Procne, and they exact revenge on Tereus by killing his son, Itys, and cooking Itys to feed to Tereus. When Tereus discovers that he has eaten Itys, he grabs his sword and chases after the sisters, who run to the forest, then are transformed into a nightingale and swallow, while Tereus gets transformed into a hoopoe, a bird that nests in its own feces.
Click here for program notes.
Philomel was premiered by Jennifer Zetlan and David Shimoni at the Church of Christ and St. Stephen in New York City at the Marilyn Horne Foundation concert series On Wings of Song, March 8, 2009. In 2010, a septet version that premiered in Oregon was created for Lucy Shelton and Beta Collide, and premiered in New York in 2012 with Jennifer Zetlan, the Queens Symphony Orchestra, and Constantine Kitsopoulos.
JUSTINE F. CHEN
COMPOSER AND VIOLINIST
SAVE THE DATE:
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SONG join us at the composer's round table in Cincinnati, OH 5/12/25
Justine's cycle of Asian Americana: ALIGHT, poetry of Ophelia Hu Kinney, sung by inspiring force of nature, soprano Jennifer Lien.
BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the stunning soprano Jeanai La Vita and pianist Justina Lee on their beautiful recital, and performance of my song with the words of revolutionary suffragist Crystal Eastman at the Bronx River Arts Center!
Check out our rave review from Gramophone of SHALLOW BREATH AND STEALTH
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BEST WORLD PREMIERE! Our "Fantastical, evocative, and nuanced" opera THE LIFE AND DEATH(S) OF ALAN TURING was named BEST WORLD PREMIERE by Chicago Tribune!
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