Stephen Lancaster & Susan McDaniel - J. Scott Brubacher: Gilgamesh (2025) Hi-Res

Artistically speaking, few things are as daunting as the historic Epic of Gilgamesh: How does one embody the eponymous hero that sparked the archetypal idea of the hero itself, inspiring figures like Heracles and Odysseus, and reaching as far back as 4,000 years ago? Intrepid baritone Stephen Lancaster confidently answers this question on GILGAMESH.

This commissioned song cycle is the fruit of an interdisciplinary creative collaboration that spans more than a decade — justifiable, considering the gravitas of the source material. The visual production, produced and directed by Four/Ten Media, lays a captivating backdrop for composer J. Scott Brubacher and librettist David James Brock’s artistry.

Lancaster masterfully commands the epic role, despite the historical weight of the character. Together with the prismatic artistry of pianist Susan McDaniel and dancer Kyle Marshall’s spellbinding Enkidu, the ancient story comes to life—heroic, indeed.