Penelope – a song cycle by Sarah Kirkland Snider

“Home is where I’m going, but never coming”

A woman’s husband returns after twenty years at war, suffering from brain damage. He no longer knows who he is, and she no longer knows who he has become. As they wait together, she reads him The Odyssey. Through the journey of that story, she finds a way back into his memory and confronts the terror and trauma of war.

In Homer’s epic, Odysseus struggles for ten years to return home from the Trojan War, facing monsters, gods and temptation. At home, Penelope resists countless suitors until her husband finally returns in disguise. But when the trials are over—who is he now?

Penelope by composer Sarah Kirkland Snider and playwright Ellen McLaughlin fuses Greek myth, contemporary poetry, and a sound world spanning classical, folk and indie-rock. In this world-first choral arrangement by Juliana Kay, the work gains new theatricality, depth and power through the voices of Alta Collective, guest children’s choirs, and chamber ensemble.

A propos de

A bold new voice in Melbourne’s chamber music scene, Alta Collective weaves movement, storytelling and genre-defying vocal music for treble voices. Guided by Artistic Director Renee Heron, the ensemble has quickly made its mark through innovative programming, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and acclaimed performances with international groups including Sjaella (Germany).Their projects include the recording Bird Calls Dog with renowned American hammer dulcimer player and composer Malcolm Dalglish, a visually driven performance with projection artist Agata Mayes, and collaborations with local musicians Monique Clare, Alice Hurwood and Pat Jaffe.

In 2024, Alta’s commissioned recording Earth-Shaped Hearts (ABC Classic) by Juliana Kay was nominated for Choral Work of the Year at the APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards and later featured on ABC Classic’s Women of Note Vol. 7 compilation. With its name derived from the Latin alta (“high”), the ensemble brings depth, daring and richness to the music of today.