Philomel (complete)

dramatic song cycle

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I. Introduction (0:53)

 

II. Tereus Meets Philomel (02:44)

 

III. Philomel Meets Tereus (05:04)

 

IV. Procne Rescues Philomel (03:25)--

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.

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synopsis:
Philomel goes to visit her newly married sister, Procne. When Procne's husband Tereus goes to pick up Procne, he lusts after Philomel. After the journey, treacherous Tereus rapes Philomel and locks her away in a hut after cutting out her tongue to keep her silent. After sending a tapestry depicting these horrors to her sister Procne, Philomel is rescued by Procne, and they exact revenge on Tereus by killing his son, Itys, and feeding him to Tereus.  When Tereus discovers that he has eaten Itys, he grabs his sword and chases after the sisters, who run to the forest, where the sisters are transformed into a nightingale and swallow (Tereus transforms into a hoopoe, a bird that nests in its own feces.)​



For program notes, click here.