James Dillon [1950], one of the most exciting figures of Scottish contemporary music, in 2004 completed his first opera based on a bloody episode in ancient Greek mythology. The tragically beautiful story of Philomela, raped and her tongue cut out but finally transformed into a nightingale, is an especially exciting subject for an opera because, in the words of the author: “No longer able to sing, Philomela, the friend of melody, invents a new means of expression to tell her tale.” The work using three singers, a chamber ensemble and live electronics, according to its creators a unique blend of baroque opera and Japanese No theatre, also strives to achieve this. The world première of Philomela in Portugal in 2004 was an enormous success. It has since been staged in many cities of Europe. The work is being brought to the Budapest Autumn Festival by the artists who gave the first performance, with the famous Finnish soprano, Anu Komsi in the leading role.