CCM’s Russell is equally excited about the challenges of putting on a production true to its origins.
“The music is an important part. The odes of the chorus would have been sung,” Russell said. “We’re setting them to music and singing them in Greek.”
It is unlikely any of the student performers will speak ancient Greek, so they will have to learn their lines phonetically. But they will get some help from UC Classics. The directors plan to recruit some doctoral students in Classics to perform in the show.
“They’ll be performing alongside our undergrads, doing choreography and music and teaching undergrads the Greek language,” Russell said. “This is the first time students from another department have appeared on stage in one of our productions.”
The show debuts next April with a few extra performances timed to the annual Feminism and Classics Conference UC Classics is hosting next spring. This will give CCM students experience in building sets designed to be broken down and restaged, he said.
“This is a thrill for us. It’s a huge cast and a play that students are excited about,” Russell said.
The partnership allows CCM to bring Conser’s language research to life in front of an audience, and shape people’s thinking about ancient music.
“For us, this is a big opportunity to be part of a larger academic conversation. We are not often part of research projects,” he said.
“The purpose of this production is to be entertaining and provide high-value experiences for our students, but also to engage in the larger research arena,” Russell said. “That’s what being part of a research institution is all about.”
Featured image at top: UC Assistant Professor Anna Conser is co-directing a production of the ancient Greek play “Antigone” with UC College-Conservatory of Music Associate Professor Brant Russell and Assistant Professor Samuel Stricklen. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
