“Don’t be shy, Pandora
Pandora, don’t be shy
Sister, you just can’t resist, neither can I
And it never hurts to try
Just admit, open it, Pandora ”
Kal. Sept. MMXXII
Salvete, amici!
I hope this letter finds you (and yours) well, as we begin a new academic year.
The chorus at the beginning of this post was written by a favorite singer-songwriter, Wesley Stace (a.k.a. John Wesley Harding). Mr. Stace is also a novelist (Misfortune, By George, and Charles Jessold, Considered as a Murderer, et al.) and the librettist for the recent opera Dido’s Ghost. I open with this chorus for two reasons. First, every new school year seems to bring its own Pandora’s Box. It’s not necessarily filled with all the evils of the world, but it certainly share of obstacles and risks that we—far more often than not—must take in stride and overcome. And, as good educators always seem to do, we succumb to our curiosity! Here’s to our eternal inquisitiveness (and may our students learn from it, as well)!
Secondly, I quoted Mr. Stace because the songwriter will kick off our ClassConn annual meeting in a conversation about his use of the classics in his music. Specifically, he will discuss his adaptation of the Dido story for his opera.
The rest of the program promises to be equally diverse and exciting. Thomas Strunk, Associate Professor of Classics at Xavier University, will speak about liberty, death, and Cato the Younger. ClassConn’s own Joey Meyer, from Glastonbury High School, inspired by a piece from the New Britain Museum of America Art, will discuss empathy and equity in our Latin classrooms. And, finally, Erika Gilleran and Harry Schmitt, CCSU undergraduate Latin students, will share some exceptional Latin texts from the Rare Book collection at Elihu Burritt Library.
Isabelle Peters as Dido in the 2021 production of Dido’s Ghost. Barbican Hall, London. (c) Mark Allan / Barbican
I’m also very pleased to announce that the 2022 Annual Meeting will return in-person to the Student Center at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. We shall gather on Saturday, 29 October, from 9 to 3 PM. Mark your calendars . . . and I hope you can join us!
Until then, let me leave you with another Wes Stace lyric, from his 2014 Record Store Day release, Ovid in Exile, “Carmen et Error.” (C’mon, how could we teachers of the classics NOT love this guy?!?)
A song and a mistake
Carmen et error
That's what I'm paying for
I don't know what you heard, sir
It was worse than a song
Deadlier than murder
I got it wrong
And now perhaps I'll go mad
Among the nomads
Valete,
Gil
Gilbert L. Gigliotti
President, Classical Association of Connecticut
Professor, Central Connecticut State University
