The Role of Music in the Reinterpretations of the Mythical Story of Medea in the Light of Translation Theory

While myth and translation are two different phenomena, their polyversional character and the ways of their dissemination make it possible to establish a common ground between them. According to Edward Balcerzan, the main difference between an original artistic text and translation is that the original is intended as a finished work of art, while translation is inherently a multiple and renewable process—a quality shared with an artistic reinterpretation of myth, which, in turn, might also involve translating the content across semiotic systems. This article discusses the role of music in the meaning-making process in three works based on Euripides’ play Medea: an opera by Luigi Cherubini; Pier Paolo Pasolini’s film production and a Polish theatrical play Medea, moja sympatia by Jeremi Przybora with music by Jerzy Wasowski), recorded as a TV show. Music plays a prominent role in these interpretations, using signs standing for human emotions, activities, cultures, or historical periods.