MERCURE ET ARGUS
- ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK -
Mercure et Argus is a project developed as part of the Musée de Beaux Arts de Lyon 2023 nocturne in collaboration with MAAAV (Music Applied to Visual Arts master).
The painting, by Jacob Jordaens, features the Greek-Roman mythological scene of Mercure and Argus. In Ovid's "Metamorphoses", we learn that Jupiter fell in love with the Nymph Io, causing the fury of his wife, Hera. To protect her, Jupiter transformed Io into a cow (top right). Unfortunately, she finds herself in the custody of Argus, the hundred-eyed monster who never sleeps (old shepherd). Jupiter sends Mercure, the winged messenger (left), to rescue Io by bewitching Argus with his flute and cutting off his head.
A flute, clarinet and bassoon ensemble presents this piece in three movements. First, "L'arrivée" (The Arrival) introduces the protagonists, followed by "Le duel" (The Duel), which illustrates the opposition between Mercure and Argus, and ends with "La libération" (The Liberation), which opens the way to Io's future.