Jerusalem Lyric Opera

Myth, Music and Heritage

A myth in human culture is a powerful narrative that, even if it is not true, is of extraordinary importance or deep meaning for the community that holds it. Whether it takes place in an ancient and distant time or in a parallel reality, a myth introduces us to gods, heroes, and superhuman figures, and offers overt and covert messages about values, identity, and worldview. It is precisely the tension between truth and fiction that gives myth its power – as a story that may not have happened, but continues to influence, inspire, and shape human consciousness across generations.

Mythological themes have been at the center of the work of painters, poets, and musicians throughout the ages. At the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem, expressions of ancient myths can be found in exhibits originating from the cultures of the region. Seals from ancient Mesopotamia echo the story of creation and the journeys of heroes in Sumer and Babylon. Figures of gods and symbols on objects from ancient Egypt depict the stories of Egyptian creation – the emergence of being from the primordial water (Henon), the cycles of nature, and the laws of order, justice, and balance (Ma`at). A complete worldview that connects the world, nature, divinity, and man. Ceramic vessels, statues, and spectacular wall paintings from Greece and Rome take us into the complex world of myths in ancient Greece and Rome – to the Olympian gods and to the figure of the semi-human hero, who embodies heroism, courage, and coping with supernatural forces.

The opening concert of the Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival will take place among the exhibits and ancient myths in the galleries of the Museum of the Bible Lands in Jerusalem. The concert will feature works by Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann and Monteverdi based on rich and familiar Greek mythology, from Telema