Penelope and the Geese, a new chamber opera by Milica Paranosic (composer) and Cheri Magid (librettist), is a retelling of the Penelope story from The Odyssey in which Penelope, rather than waiting twenty years in celibacy for Odysseus’ return, gets to explore her sexuality and her self in his absence.

The opera is scored for harp, flute and cello and those instruments’ ancient twins, Greek lyre and aulos and Serbian gusle, and is performed by an all-female cast. This June, the Theoria Foundation at White Feather Farm will host a workshop of the opera (co-produced by ShoutOut Saugerties), which will be directed by Mo Zhou, conducted by Mila Henry, and feature performances by Hai-Ting Chinn, Joy Jan Jones and Lynne Procope with sculpture by contemporary artist Millicent Young.