ILIOS is in development and it will be the world's first full length opera based on Homer's ILIAD.
ILIOS the opera has been a development from the earlier ILIOS the ballet, which was performed in 2005 at Pepperdine University.
Dr. Stickel originally commissioned Mr. Stermer to compose a symphony on the Iliad entitled, ILIOS. But since his wife had a de-facto ballet company, that project evolved into a ballet. However, when it was performed, the audience reaction was that -- while they enjoyed the ballet -- they could not follow the story of the Iliad as told only through dance. Therefore, Dr. Stickel was encouraged to re-envision ILIOS as an opera with stories sung in such a manner that it could be understood. Dr. Stickel subsequently wrote a libretto to ILIOS, which was endorsed by the then Consul General of Greece in Los Angeles, Dimitris Tziras. Subsequently he recommended the project to USC, since its mascot is Troy; however, they declined. So Dr. Stickel has looked elsewhere for support for both composers and producers of the most worthy project.
