Les chansons de Bilitis

In this lyrical tale we are invited into the quiet world of Bilitis, a young woman born on the rugged slopes of the Taurus range at the edge of ancient Pamphylia. Her days begin with the crow of the rooster, tending goats and milking cows, then shift to weaving wool and wandering the sun‑lit fields with her companions. The narrative is steeped in reverence for the unseen nymphs of hidden springs, whose presence shapes her modest, pastoral life. Yet a lingering, unnamed love begins to stir, hinting at a longing that will soon pull her beyond the mountains.

Bilitis’s journey carries her to the bustling port of Mytilene, a city that dazzles with colorful fabrics, fragrant oils, and the clamor of crowded streets. There, the sensual atmosphere of festivals, music, and dance reveals a society where women seek solace and intimacy with one another amid a male‑dominated world. Through her eyes we glimpse the early whispers of Sappho’s circle, as delicate affections blossom against a backdrop of opulent decadence. The first act paints a vivid portrait of desire, freedom, and the fragile beauty of a life on the cusp of change.