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The unlikely story of a child bride who ascends to the heart of Byzantine power. Harboring a treasonous secret that marks her as the enemy of her husband and son, Irene must finally choose her side in the iconoclastic wars. With a haunting score inspired by Byzantine Chant, and featuring the voices of ten women and non-binary performers, ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE is a sweeping story of ambition, sacrifice, and the struggle to make something new out of a shattered world. A twelve-episode musical aud ...
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The court is in mourning and strongly opposed to Irene's new role as Regent, forcing Staurakios into a final violence that tests Megaris's long-standing faith in her friend, Irene. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI),…
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Irene finds new courage, as Staurakios attempts to use the terror of the Purple Room to engineer a reconciliation with Leo. Aided by Cyra, Constantine tries to bring a warning to his father, but Leo is struggling with the heat from his new crown and its stolen crown jewel. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhof…
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Irene tries to give her new icon to her son to protect him, but discovers too late the lessons the iconoclasts have been teaching him. Seeing the danger, Megaris tries to keep Constantine's loyalty. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis…
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Irene is fearful of Cyra's growing control over her son and longs for her old icon. Leo receives a new crown from the iconoclasts, but Staurakios has his own gift for Irene. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah…
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Four years after crushing the icon, Leo rules alone, while Irene is locked in her rooms and kept from her son. Staurakios fears the rising power of the iconoclasts led by Cyra's brothers, but a sick Leo pushes him away. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (…
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Leo and Irene celebrate their new happiness as they take power, but Cyra uses baby Constantine's innocence to devastating effect. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court),…
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The Old Emperor is dead and Leo and Irene must make every rival swear loyalty to them as the new rulers. Cyra continues her quest to prove that Irene has a forbidden icon, while Staurakios warns Leo about being too accommodating to icon lovers. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (N…
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Five years on, a sick Irene and Leo care for their son, Constantine VI, while trying to resist the quickening preparations for war. As the court splits into iconophiles and iconoclasts, Staurakios tries to contain the chaos, whilst Cyra reveals Irene's secret to an unexpectedly hostile audience. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and co…
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A scared Irene is taken to the crowded Purple Room to give birth to her son in front of the whole court. Cyra makes a shocking discovery that reignites her hostility towards her mistress. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constanti…
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A newly-crowned Irene struggles to impose her will on her aristocratic ladies, but makes a new friend in the eunuch Staurakios. The Emperor grows angry at foolish words spoken by Megaris, but is mollified by some unexpected news. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris …
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Staurakios organizes a Bride Show to find a wife for Leo, but the Emperor is too sick to follow Staurakios’ plans. Irene is unexpectedly elevated, but makes an enemy out of her competitor Cyra and her powerful iconoclastic brothers. ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Ir…
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A teenage Irene prepares to sail to Constantinople with her best friend Megaris to present herself as the perfect bride for the Caesar Leo, son of the icon-hating Emperor, but can’t bear to leave behind her mother’s icon. Meanwhile, Leo tries to please his dying father under the shadow of his eunuch Staurakios’ warnings that war is coming. ICONS/ID…
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ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE First Listen: "Look On Me"
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A first listen to the song "Look On Me" from ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE, a musical audio drama by the Byzantine Choral Project. Broadway World hailed the work as “gripping, emotional and eerily beautiful” when an excerpt was featured in a sound installation in NYC in May. “Grace Oberhofer has composed a truly fantastic acapella score. It has a gorgeous abi…
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ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE First Listen: Episode 1 Excerpt
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Listen to an excerpt of episode one of ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE, a musical audio drama by the Byzantine Choral Project. Premiering September 22 with new episodes every Wednesdays, this new serial podcast tells unlikely story of a child bride who rises to the heart of Byzantine power. Harboring a treasonous secret that marks her as the enemy of her husban…
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A new musical audio drama by the Byzantine Choral Project tells the unlikely story of a child bride who rises to the heart of Byzantine power. Harboring a treasonous secret that marks her as the enemy of her husband and son, Irene must finally choose her side in the iconoclastic wars. With a haunting score inspired by Byzantine chant and featuring …
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