Iokaste

This musical drama relates the entire myth of the Labdacids from the perspective of the Theban queen Jocasta, mother and wife of King Oedipus. Two women, a mezzo soprano and an actress, share the title role of Jocasta as well as seven additional roles. A chamber orchestra leads the listener through the story with shimmering colour and leitmotifs for each character and event. The work’s symphonic form is a result of careful motivic construction: at its centre a four-note motif symbolising the curse which ultimately eradicates the entire family. Stefan Heucke