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About the Score

Three Latin Elegies to Lesbia is a setting of three poems written by the ancient Roman poet, Gaius Valerius Catullus (84-54 B.C.E.). His muse in these poems is understood to be Lesbia, the name believed to have been given by Catullus to his mistress. Lesbia was really Clodia, the sexually promiscuous wife of proconsul Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer. Clodia was said to have many lovers, and Catullus’ torment and obsession for her is well documented in 13 of his poems where the name, Lesbia, is used. His first poem addressed to Lesbia (Catullus 51) is a free translation of a poem by the ancient Greek poet, Sappho. Scholars have suggested that Catullus chose the name, Lesbia, because of his affinity for Sappho, who it is believed was a lesbian. The songs include Odi et Amo (I Hate and I Love), Lesbia mi dicit semper male (Lesbia Always Speaks Ill of Me), and Mea Lesbia (My Lesbia).

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