Alice will present a talk on her new chamber opera, A Festival of Lights, which explores Orphisim—a nonviolent vegan spiritual movement that lasted for over 600 years in ancient Greece and Rome. It was based on teachings of the semi-legendary musician Orpheus which were passed down through the centuries in exquisite small poems. And it was followed by human beings around the Roman Empire who wanted to find a better way to exist than what they saw around them. These highly disciplined practitioners believed that through the pursuit of consciousness and strict nonviolence they would become immortal, keeping their awareness and their personality after death. A Festival of Lights tells the story of one such Orphic activist who is struggling to apply the Orphic instructions and become immortal. The opera is written for three singers, chorus, actors, live and electronic music, dance, and video projections. Indian music is incorporated, echoing what these nonviolent activists may have chanted during their peaceful sunset ceremonies. The libretto draws from fragments of ancient Greek Orphic poems and the modern poetry of Edward Barrett.
🗓️ Monday, December 29, 2025
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Harvestworks, 596 Broadway, Suite 602, SoHo, New York, NY 10012
A Presentation of New Work by Alice Shields
This project is sponsored by Harvestworks. In 2025, Alice Shields received a New York State Council on the Arts grant.
About Alice Shields
Alice Shields is an American composer and pioneer of electronic music, best known for her
cross-cultural operas and vocal works. Born in Manhattan in 1943, she earned a Doctor of
Musical Arts in music composition from Columbia University and has served as Associate
Director of the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center and Director for Development of
the Columbia University Computer Music Center. Shields’ music blends Western and non-
Western traditions, drawing on Indian classical forms and Japanese theater, and has been
performed by institutions including the New York City Opera and at international festivals like
the Venice Biennale. Her work spans opera, electronic, ensemble, and vocal music, and is
published by the American Composers Alliance. She has also taught the psychology of music at
NYU and Rutgers. In 2024 Alice was an artist in residence at Harvestworks, creating Songs for
the Removal of Grief, a 30-minute animation.
For more information on her work: aliceshields.com