The story of Homer’s Odyssey needs no introduction, especially in opera. Influential on countless art forms, this epic story traditionally centres the male hero in its many retellings. A beautifully executed performance by Alta Collective and the Young Voices of Melbourne of American composer Sarah Kirkland Snider’s 2008 song cycle Penelope instead offers a refreshing contemporary female perspective on this ancient tale.

Alta Collective’s Penelope. Photo © Simon Fazio

Adapted from an orchestral song cycle into a version for the massed treble voices of Alta Collective, the Young Voices of Melbourne and small chamber ensemble by musical director Juliana Kay, this engrossing hour-long performance touches every emotional aspect of the forlorn Penelope.

In this nuanced adaptation, the wife of Odysseus, who has been patiently awaiting the hero’s return, is suddenly confronted with the man she has assumed dead for the past 10 years. She adapts to his return, processing the deep and traumatic emotions that accompany such a difficult reunion. She listens to the stories of his journey, spoken through a poetic libretto by Ellen McLaughlin that touches on key moments...