Eleanor
A Medieval Opera

Alkemie will perform a concert version (semi-staged) of this work that explores the life of the historical figure Eleanor Rykener, who was arrested in December 1394 in London's Cheapside while wearing female attire - sparking a court debate as to whether to charge Rykener with prostitution (which would apply to a woman) or sodomy (which would apply to a man).

While it is impossible to fully understand Rykener’s life and experience from one court document, Seligmann uses this starting-off point to explore themes of acceptance, identity, and gender in medieval England, incorporating texts by contemporaries Christine de Pisan (1364 – c. 1430), Eustache Deschamps (1346-1406), and Kalonymus ben Kalonymus (1286 – c. 1328). Seligmann identifies as non-binary, the role will be premiered by non-binary soprano Elisse Albian.