The opera Baucis and Philemon began with a seed of support from the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts in the form of a development grant—support that allowed composer Steven Ricks and librettist Stephen Tuttle to imagine a production that would grow into one of surprising scope, beauty, and depth.

“He an oak, and she a linden”: the source of Baucis and Philemon

Inspired by the Greek myth from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the opera tells of an elderly couple, Baucis and Philemon, who offer hospitality to disguised gods and are rewarded by being transformed into two trees on the shore of a mountain lake—together forever. It’s a story about aging, devotion, generosity, and the mysteries of time, framed not by action but by atmosphere. Librettist Stephen Tuttle recently wrote about the collaboration for BYU’s College Humanities Magazine. “The composition and libretto weave together to celebrate the joy and warmth of Ovid’s myth,” He wrote, “while acknowledging that growth and decline are two sides of the same coin”.

Multi-sensory collaboration: poetry, sculpture, and river recordings

The production itself is a multi-sensory experience, layered with music, poetry, and arresting visuals. The opera begins with exposition of the story illustrated by David Habben, and closes with a final movement of animated text by Brent Barson. These two visual elements bookend the opera with enchanting, dreamlike sequences that invite viewers into a world both strange and familiar.

These mesmerizing visual components, along with lighting by Michael Kraczek, percussive tree sculptures by Brian Christensen, and field recordings by Steve Peck, contribute to what Ricks calls “my most ambitious work to date.” Baucis and Philemon is breathtaking, and the scope of collaboration in the project is equally impressive.

With vocals by Shea Owens and Madison Leonard, the opera premiered at BYU in 2023 after years of pandemic delays. The Center is proud to have played a role in bringing this opera to life through early financial support. Encouraging high-caliber work by Latter-day Saint artists is core to our mission—and grants and awards like these are how we help artists grow.