On May 30th, Classical Uprising brings its presentation of Penelope to Founders Hall for a unique and unforgettable evening straddling the space between art song, indie rock, chamber folk, and contemporary classical performance.
317 Main and Classical Uprising Executive Directors Graeme Kennedy and Emily Isaacson have known each other their whole lives, from childhood birthday parties to family celebrations (Graeme’s high school surf rock band even provided the soundtrack for Emily’s sister’s Bat Mitzvah), so it was only a matter of time before these two cultural institutions came together for something special.
Conducted by Isaacson, the night promises to be immersive, intimate, emotionally sweeping, and unlike anything else currently happening in Maine’s performing arts landscape.
Inspired by Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey, Penelope is a meditation on what it means to come home. A genre-defying song cycle by composer Sarah Kirkland Snider and lyricist Ellen McLaughlin, Penelope, sees a woman's husband appear at her door after an absence of twenty years, suffering from brain damage. A veteran of an unnamed war, he doesn't know who he is and she doesn't know who he's become. While they wait together for his return to himself, she reads to him from the Odyssey, and in the journey of that book, she finds a way into her former husband's memory. Penelope is a love story about the long work of finding each other again.
SCHEDULE
5:00 p.m. – Doors
5:15 p.m. – Pre-concert lecture (concert ticket required)
5:15 -7:15 p.m. – We'll Händel the Children
6:00 p.m. – Performance
ARTISTS
Mezzo-soprano soloist: Lauren Kelly
Violin I: Kate Goddard
Violin II: Raina Arnett
Viola: Hannah Selin
Cello: Helen Newby
Bass: Dara Bloom
Drums/percussion: Mike Williams
Laptop/Electronics: Jordan Guerette
Read more here: https://www.portlandbachexperience.com/artists
TICKETS
Adults: $50 in advance, $60 door
Students: $20 in advance, $25 door
And while you follow Penelope's story, your kids will be living one of their own.
"We'll Handel the Children" brings the world of the Odyssey to life for young adventurers—monsters and mazes, heroes and homecomings, all through music, movement, and hands-on storytelling. Certified childcare professionals lead the journey. $10 per child.
Space is limited; pre-registration required. Sign up when you purchase tickets above.
This performance of Penelope is presented by
Classical Uprising's Portland Bach Experience and 317 Main Community Music Center.
D.M. Stith, album art and cover design
Penelope by Sarah Kirkland Snider presented under license from
G. Schirmer Inc. and Associated Music Publishers, copyright owners.