How folklore and the Unicorn Tapestries inspired a haunting musical performance
In short: Three-time Grammy winner Cécile McLorin Salvant performs a digital-exclusive set inside The Met Cloisters. Drawing from European legend and her own textile artistry, she explores themes of love and transformation through the story of Mélusine, a mythical woman cursed to become half-serpent.
Recorded in July 2022 within the Unicorn Tapestries Room, this performance features Salvant reimagining tracks from her album Mélusine. The music centers on the folkloric figure of Mélusine, a woman who transforms into a half-serpent every Saturday. The narrative follows her marriage to Raymondin, a union bound by a secret condition that is ultimately broken when he spies on her during a bath.
Salvant, who is also a textile artist, finds deep inspiration in the Cloisters' historic tapestries. This performance continues her history with MetLiveArts, following her 2018 premiere of Ogresse, a work centered on a forest-dwelling monster-woman. The program highlights the intersection of mythological grandeur with the intimacy of voice and baroque instrumentation.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Cécile McLorin Salvant at The Met Cloisters: Mélusine | MetLiveArts
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