In an innovative effort to showcase a near-original rendition of the Greek tragedy “Antigone,” the University of Cincinnati’s Classics Assistant Professor Anna Conser has set out to create an unprecedentedly authentic production of the play, enriched with ancient song and dance. In collaboration with the UC’s College-Conservatory of Music, Conser, an expert in ancient Greek who’s penning a book about Greek tragedies as musical theater, aims to capture the essence of the musical patterns lost to time in an upcoming production. Drawing on research into poetic meters and the accentuation of ancient Greek, to unveil the melody among the verses, Conser’s work indeed promises to be a significant cultural reclamation.
While the initiative is focused on restoring an art form, the relevance of this 2,500-year-old play starkly resonates with modern audiences. As the University of Cincinnati’s announcement detailed, it’s a tale of Antigone, a princess who defies an unjust law to honor her deceased brother, a decision that costs her life. This story of civil disobedience and individual moral fortitude still strikes a chord with contemporary society, echoing the timeless struggle between state power and personal ethics.
According to Conser’s understanding, the significance of music in Greek theater mirrored that of the hip-hop genre today, where the blend of words, melody, and rhythm converges to create a powerful narrative force. In her attempt to rediscover the choral odes’ original performance style, Conser brings an entirely new dimension to the auditory experience of ancient tragedy. As Conser told the University of Cincinnati, “It is highly rhythmic. The closest analog might be hip-hop. The emphasis is less on orchestration than on the combination of words, melody and rhythm.”
Supporting Conser’s project are Associate Professor Brant Russell, head of dramatic performance at CCM, and UC Assistant Professor Samuel Stricklen, who also teaches drama. They both recognize the importance and the impact of this endeavor. “The idea that a young woman would defy an unjust law in order to pursue what she believes is right no matter the cost feels pretty relevant,” Russell shared in a statement obtained by the University of Cincinnati, highlighting the play’s enduring relevance. Stricklen’s expertise in drama joins Conser’s in ancient music and Russell’s dramatic guidance to create a landmark theatrical experience, potentially.
UC’s bold undertaking looks to add a historical dimension to modern entertainment and offers an educational glimpse into the ancients’ conceptions of art and expression. If successful, the production will serve as a connective thread between the past and the present, proving that some art—even separated by millennia—can remain universally potent and profoundly human.
