Join us for an unforgettable adventure as Pacific Opera Victoria’s Youth Summer Performance Program presents a fully staged production of Odyssey, a 50-minute opera by Ben Moore and Kelley Rourke.
Starring talented local singers aged 8–18 alongside opera professionals, this epic tale comes to life with music, magic, and myth — a perfect afternoon out for opera lovers of all ages!
Bard 1 …………………………………………………………………………… Louis Dillon
Bard 2 ……………………………………………………………………….. Chelsea Kutyn
Odysseus ……………………………………………………………… Kaidyn Robertson
Penelope ……………………………………………………….. Genevieve Roszmann
Athena ……………………………………………………………………. Zavanah Turvey
Poseidon / Sailor ………………………………………………………….. Colin Wilson
Cyclops / Sailor ………………………………………………………… Callum Spivack
Aeolus / Ithacan Girl / Siren ……………………………………….. Cooper Higley
1st Mate ………………………………………………………………………. Olivia Cleary
2nd Mate ………………………………………………………………….. Stella Gislason
3rd Mate ………………………………………………………………………… Marlo Pace
4th Mate / Ithacan Girl / Siren ………………………………………. Isabel Sousa
5th Mate / Ithacan Girl / Siren ………………………………. Chloe McCormick
7th Mate …………………………………………………………………………. Vincent Yu
12th Mate / Ithacan Girl / Siren ………………………………………….. Lara Sohi
13th Mate ……………………………………………………………………Aidan Warren
Circe / Siren / Sailor ……………………………………………………. Sophie Beach
Siren / Sailor ………………………………………………. Denisa Vandekerkhove
Ithacan Girl / Siren …………………………………………………….. Marielle Ferris
Ithacan Girl / Sailor ………………………………… Mary Jane Bulman-Fleming
Ithacan Girl / Sailor ………………………………………………………. Bellamy Duy
Ithacan Girl …………………………………………………………………… Fiona Shao
Sailor …………………………………………………………………….. Vivian Le Gresley
Sailor ……………………………………………………………… Genevieve Roszmann
Sailor ……………………………………………………………………… Adelaide Sanche
Sailor ……………………………………………………………………………… Fiona Shao
Sailor ………………………………………………………………………. Zavanah Turvey
Sailor …………………………………………………………………………….. Daniel Zhao
After a short prologue, we meet Penelope and Odysseus. Penelope is surrounded
by Ithacan women who push her to choose a new husband (“Do you really wanna
wait forever?”). Odysseus, meanwhile, tries to rally his troops, who prefer the lazy
pleasures of the Isle of the Lotus Eaters (“Here upon these fragrant shores”). Time
stops as Penelope and Odysseus find strength in thoughts of each other (“Like a
shipwrecked sailor”).
Odysseus and his crew set out. When they reach land, they briefly believe they
have arrived in Ithaca (“Let us praise Athena”)—but then they meet the Cyclops.
Odysseus uses his superior wit to humiliate the Cyclops. When Poseidon, god of
the sea and father to Cyclops, sees what has happened, he curses Odysseus’
journey.
Odysseus meets Aeolus, keeper of the winds, who gives Odysseus a bag of
wayward winds for safekeeping, leaving the west wind free to speed them home.
The jubilant crew raises the sail (“Crashing through the waves”). While Odysseus
sleeps, his First Mate, curious about the contents of the bag, unleashes a terrible
storm, much to the delight of Poseidon (“Bring on the wind”).
Odysseus and his crew land on the island of Circe, a sorceress. Pleased by the
looks of her visitor, Circe offers lavish hospitality, but Odysseus is eager to sail on
to Ithaca. Furious (“That’s not how things are done”), Circe turns his crew into pigs.
Odysseus is exasperated, but the sailors are as happy as pigs in mud (“We’ve been
away forever, what’s another year?”). After a year, Circe releases them, warning
Odysseus to beware of the Sirens.
The crew prepares to meet the Sirens. After plugging their ears with wax, they
bind Odysseus under Athena’s supervision. When the Sirens begin to sing (“Come,
come hear our Siren song”), Odysseus struggles to free himself and almost steers
the ship into the rocks, but is prevented by the First Mate and Athena.
The Bards launch a final overview (“What a trip”), ending with Odysseus’ arrival on
Ithaca. Athena and Poseidon sing of the human condition (“A man’s the feeblest,
foolish–‐‑est creature that ever walked the earth”). Athena warns Odysseus not to
reveal himself immediately. When he appears, the Ithacan women scorn him.
Penelope tests the stranger when he asks about Odysseus’ bow (“They say none
can string the bow but Odysseus himself”). With Athena’s permission, he strings
the bow and Penelope flies to him. The people of Ithaca join a joyful final chorus
(“Ithaca, mighty Ithaca”).
Tickets Available on Eventbrite
HereStaff
Originally commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival