The notion of Elizabeth Taylor struggling between two men doesn't sound like anything out of the ordinary. But this time, she chooses independence, and she does it all to music.

Cleo, an opera written by Jason Charnesky (graduate-English), won the National Opera Association's Chamber Opera Competition in early January. As a reward, the opera will be performed at Temple University in 2002.

Cleo is a comical opera about Elizabeth Taylor's choice between her husband Eddie Fisher and her leading man Richard Burton during the filming of the 1964 production of Cleopatra.

"Liz has to choose between her husband and her lover. In the end, she doesn't choose either one. She can only be true to her heart. She has to live as an artist, not for a man," Charnesky said.

Cleo is the final opera of "Ever Since Eden," a three part series including Eve's Odds and Golden Apple. Each opera takes a familiar story and changes the circumstances so the woman is making an active decision.

"Each act focuses on a decision a woman makes that changes culture," Charnesky said.

In Eve's Odds, Charnesky takes the story of Adam and Eve and changes it so that Eve chooses to leave the Garden of Eden to find her own path.

Golden Apple is a revision of Virgil's story of Dido and Aneas. In this version, Dido tells Aneas to leave rather than allowing herself to fall apart and commit suicide.

The music was written and composed by Bruce Trinkley, professor of music.

Eve's Odds won the same competition in 1999 and was performed at University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music.

"The most satisfying experience is seeing these things performed and seeing the audience really like it," Charnesky said. "The music is lyrical and pretty — both of us write for an audience, for people to enjoy."

Penn State students and alumni acted in Cleo, and Susan Boardman, associate professor of music, directed it.

"Bruce and Jason have such a talent for opera writing," said Korey Jackson (senior-music education). "It's fun for the performer and the audience. There's great music, a great plot and great characters."

Charnesky and Trimble worked together on The Diamond Child, which observed The Day of Six Billion that marked the day that the world's population was expected to reach its namesake number, six billion.

It told a story of four couples who were awaiting the birth of the six billionth child. The song "Live to Learn, Learn to Love" was distributed to children from elementary through high school. Students were invited to attend and sing with the performers. Cost was free, but they were asked to bring one can of food, which raised a large donation for food banks.

Charnesky and Trimble are working on York, which is a panel discussion and a musical addressing the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's expedition. Experts from around the country will bring awareness to Native American and African American issues that were affected by this expedition.