The University of York are proud to present After Ovid on the 6th and 7th of November at 7:30pm in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall at the University of York. This media opera explores Ovid’s Metamorphoses – the magnum opus of the Greek poet’s work. In fifteen books, and over two-hundred-and-fifty myths, Ovid fervently delves into every aspect of the human condition in an anthology that depicts the joy, tragedy and trials of the ancient world. These timeless stories resonate into the twenty-first century, as tales of grief, love and transformation take place in the modern world.
After Ovid presents these epic stories through Music and Media in a performance experience like no other. Combining original composition, video, choirs, ensembles and live technology remix, After Ovid has been created entirely at the University of York. Through use of multiple projection screens and fresh new music, students from the University of York Music Department will retell these classic stories with a contemporary edge. The Flight of Daedalus and Icarus, The Transformation of Echo , The Demise of Narcissus and more, all become revived with a Twenty First Century approach.
This performance has been carefully crafted by students at the University of York as part of the annual Practical Project, in which the Music Department encourages it’s newest students to engage with music in an innovative and creative manner to produce a stunning evening of unique music. Under careful direction from newly appointed Head of Department, Dr Ambrose Field, these creative young minds have developed a performance full of beauty, finesse and charm – a night of wonderful music not to be missed! Ambrose Field said this concerning After Ovid:
‘Created from scratch in a five week period, every single note of After Ovid has been created by students at the University of York Department of Music. Their considerable creativity, musical originality and professionalism has provided a wealth of new interpretations and original settings of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, proving that Ovid’s text is just as relevant today as it was in AD 2. I know of few institutions where such a large-scale undertaking would be feasible within the time period, let alone be accomplished with such enthusiastic and committed participants.’
Tickets are priced at £8 (£6 concessions, £3 students) and are available from the York Concerts Box Office, online at www.york.ac.uk/concerts or by phone on
01904 322439 from 1pm – 3:30 pm Monday to Friday. Tickets will also be available for purchase on the night, forty-five minutes before the performance begins.
This is sure to be a sensorial feast, with intricate lighting projections, inspired cinematography… not to mention a musically transcendental experience – for the most part due to the commitment and enthusiasm of this year’s new students. Please, come and support them on the 6th and 7th!