New York University’s Center for Ancient Studies will host the Rose-Marie Lewent Conference, “Enacting Medea: Theatre, Opera, and Film,” on Thurs., June 1, 5 p.m. at NYU’s Hemmerdinger Hall, 100 Washington Square East. The event, organized with the Aquila Theatre Company, is free and open to the public, which may call 212.992.9642 or email tb813@nyu.edu for more information.
Reporters interested in attending the event should contact James Devitt, Office of Public Affairs, at 212.998.6808 or james.devitt@nyu.edu.
The conference will bring noted panelists together to discuss interpretations of Medea across the spectrum of performing art forms. The panelists and the topics they will discuss are as follows:
- Daniel Mendelsohn, Flint Professor of Humanities at Bard College, and noted author and critic for the New York Times (“Medea in 431 BC: Passions and Politics”)
- Michael Beckerman, Professor of Music at NYU (“Medea in Opera: Cherubini and Jiri Bendar”)
- Herbert Golder, Professor of Classics at Boston University and frequent collaborator with filmmaker Werner Herzog (“Medea on Film: Passolini, Jules Dassin, and Lars von Trier”)
- The Aquila Theatre Company (Selected scenes from Euripides and Cherubini)
Subway Lines: 6 (Lafayette/Broadway); A, B, C, D, E, F, V (West 4th Street); N, R, W (8th Street)
The conference complements a concert performance of Cherubini’s Medee at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. The Aquila Theatre Company will be performing in a new translation of Cherubini’s original French libretto. Peter Tiboris conducts The Manhattan Philharmonic and soprano Irini Tsirakidou sings the role of Medea. For ticket information call 212.247.7800 or go to www.midamerica-music.com/carnegie/carnegie_june2006.htm.
Aquila has been the professional company in residence at NYU’s Center for Ancient Studies since 1999 and has since become a major part of New York City’s theatrical landscape.