The Metamorphosis of Gertrude and Jo, A Chamber Opera

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Date

2020-12-08

Authors

Kalcheim, Samuel

Journal Title

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Publisher

University of Oregon

Abstract

The Metamorphosis of Gertrude and Jo, a Chamber Opera is in one act, and is scored for three singers and eight-person chamber ensemble. The libretto by Susanna Payne-Passmore is a queer retelling of the myth of Philemon and Baucis from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. This tale of an older couple visited by gods was adapted to portray an older lesbian couple, visited by a mysterious deity referred to as “The Divine Stranger,” who represents the threshold or cusp. The libretto incorporates and adapts text from Sappho’s poetry as well, and also includes the Seikilos Epitaph—a 1st to 2nd C. CE tombstone inscription that constitutes the oldest surviving complete piece of notated music. The opera is written to be sung by non-traditional voices. The roles for the couple are intended for older women singers, while the part of The Stranger is for non-binary/genderqueer people. The Divine Stranger’s part was expressly created for non-binary singer Kristyn Christman-McCarty.

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Keywords

Chamber Opera, Opera, Ovid, Philemon and Baucis, Queer, Sappho

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