#278 - Hadestown - Myth, Music, and Meaning

This special mid-week episode is a deep dive into the musical Hadestown, Anaïs Mitchell’s folk opera that reimagines the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in a haunting, jazz-inflected underworld. Last week, I had the joy of playing violin in the on-stage band for a series of local youth-theater performances of Hadestown, and sharing the stage with my daughter made the entire experience unforgettable.During preparation, I became captivated by the music, the storytelling, and the rich threads of Greek mythology woven throughout Hadestown. I also discovered that the show’s writer published a book, Working on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown, which opens a window into the creative process behind the musical.In this episode, I explore:* The Greek myths at the heart of Hadestown* The subtle ways the musical reshapes and reimagines those myths* The connection points between this story and narratives found in the BibleThis musical moved me in a way that very few others ever have.Audio RecordingsOriginal Broadway Cast RecordingSpotify / Apple MusicLive from LondonSpotify / Apple MusicThis one is my personal favorite but it only contains about half of the songs. Hermes is played by a female and she just absolutely kills it. I love her passion.Talking Hadestown: Commentary & SongsSpotify / Apple MusicThis is a neat recording where Anaïs Mitchell talks about some of the songs from Hadestown.The BookWorking on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown by Anaïs MitchellThe Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.booksoftitans.com/subscribe