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 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.​



For program notes, click here.