Opera
Inspired by the ancient Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris, Sharon has created the libretto for a new Canadian opera — “Isis and Osiris, Gods of Egypt.” The first public performance of an excerpt of the opera took place on March 31, 2010 at the Art Gallery of Ontario, and in December 2013, the Love Scene from Act One of the opera was performed at Heliconian Hall with composer Peter-Anthony Togni at the piano and singers mezzo soprano Andrea Ludwig and tenor Joseph Angelo singing the Isis and Osiris roles.
“ISIS AND OSIRIS”
Synopsis
The myth of Isis and Osiris tells the story of the first living gods of Egypt. This larger-than-life tale of the first great love story of humankind also portrays the first evil act in the world. Seth, the jealous brother of Osiris has a monstrous plan to take over the kingship of Egypt — he will murder his brother. In an elaborate hoax, Seth gives Osiris a beautiful bejeweled sarcophagus as a gift, and tells him that inside the box is a game which allows the player to access occult realms inaccessible to mortal men. Osiris lays down in the box. Once Osiris is in the coffin, Seth nails the lid shut and sends Osiris down the Nile imprisoned in the box.
As soon as Isis discovers what Seth has done, her great love for Osiris compels her to sets out on a journey across the world to retrieve her love. After much searching and near despair, Isis finds Osiris and brings him home to Egypt where she intends to heal him, but before she can begin, Seth discovers that Osiris is back and determines to rid himself of his brother once and for all. This time, Seth does not take any chances – he cuts the body of Osiris into fourteen pieces and buries them all over Egypt. One part however is thrown into the Nile, where it is eaten by a flesh-devouring fish. In a second epic journey, Isis searches the entire kingdom until she finds the broken pieces of her husband’s body and brings them to a temple in the royal palace.
Isis sings as she binds the body together with strips of linen — the first Egyptian mummification. The opera builds towards this perilous moment when Isis, intoning incantations, and risking her own life, calls on the spirit world to bring the soul of Osiris back to the land of the living.
Magically, through her extraordinary powers, she manifests the missing part of Osiris’ body — a phallus of pure gold. Then using every ounce of her wisdom and strength she defies natural law as she attempts to bring life back into the moribund body of her husband Osiris. Even the gods hold their breath, waiting to see if Isis is able to revive the dead. Then Osiris awakens! Confused and in terrible pain, Osiris pleads with Isis to let him sink back into the spirit world. But Isis is determined to fulfill their duty – to bring their son Horus into the world who will be the progenitor of a line of pharaohs. Their overwhelming love for each other is palpable as Isis uses her mystical powers to alleviate his pain. As if the very winds blew into his lungs, Osiris expands with life. Basking in a love that has transcended the boundaries of life and death, Isis and Osiris dance together. Their son Horus is conceived. The heavens explode with lightening as the gods rejoice. After their joyous reunion, Isis and Osiris must follow their separate destinies: Osiris to become the Judge of the Dead and Isis to rear Horus. But the ominous presence of Seth continues to haunt the future.