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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 audio narrative by the Byzantine Choral Project. // Written by Helen Banner. Composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare, Iris Beaumier, Isabella Dawis, Hannah Eakin, Julia Izumi, Grace Oberhofer, Lukas Papenfusscline, Shanta Parasuraman, Yael Shavitt and Kay Weber. Music Direction by Robert Frost. Audio Engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound Design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured Foley Artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. // ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was adapted from a stage play to a podcast in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Its development has received support from OPERA America, New York Council on the Arts, The New Ohio/IRT Archive Residency, The Tank, and New Georges. An excerpt of ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was shared with live audiences at New Ohio Theatre in May 2021 in the immersive sound installation ICONS/IDOLS: IN THE PURPLE ROOM. byzantinechoralproject.com // If you enjoy this podcast, you can support our work with a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project: byzantinechoralproject.com/donate

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Check latest episodes from Icons/Idols: Irene podcast

E01 - Paint Me

2021/09/22

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/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), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E02 - Bride Show

2021/09/22

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), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E03 - Love All Your Ladies

2021/09/29

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 Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E04 - The Stranger

2021/09/29

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 (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E05 - Peek-a-Boo

2021/10/06

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 composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E06 - Two Flocks of Birds

2021/10/13

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 (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E07 - A Doll

2021/10/20

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), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E08 - A New Crown

2021/10/27

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 (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E09 - The Old Gods

2021/11/03

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 Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E10 - Tell Mama

2021/11/10

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 (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E11 - The Purple Room

2021/11/10

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 Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

E12 - Outside of Eden

2021/11/17

The final episode! 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), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast. // If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

Podcast reviews

Read Icons/Idols: Irene podcast reviews

5 out of 5

18 reviews

★★★★★

Ale28281 2021/09/29

Compelling Storytelling

Innovative storytelling and lushly arranged choral vocals, telling an emotionally charged story.

★★★★★

Very....interesting 2021/09/23

Music breathes life into ancient tale of power and intrigue

I knew next to nothing about Byzantine history before this. Wow! Exotic setting, young ingenue thrust into the corridors of power, story swept along...

★★★★★

ToffeeDiva 2021/09/22

Brilliant glimpse into 8th century Byzantium!

Compelling narrative, moved forward through powerful choral harmonies, perfectly articulated!

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