For who can wield like Shakespeare's skilful hand: A concert to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death at St John's Smith Square, London on Tuesday 15th November 2016

Please note: This concert is in the past and has already taken place.

For who can wield like Shakespeare's skilful hand

A concert to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death

Add to my Calendar 15-11-2016 19:30 15-11-2016 21:30 36 For who can wield like Shakespeare's skilful hand The quatercentenary of Shakespeare’s death in April 1616 is marked by rarely-heard music celebrating the enduring impact of the greatest English playwright. Settings by two of the most expressive composers of the age of Mozart are performed on period instruments by Bampton Classical Opera, renowned specialists in rare operatic repertory of the late eighteenth century. Thomas Linley the Younger (1756-1778) was a precocious composer who became known as the ‘English Mozart’: the two 14-year old composers met in Italy in 1770 becoming good friends. In his masterpiece, the remarkable Ode on the Fairies, Aerial Beingsand Witches of Shakespeare he evokes the supernatural atmosphere of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth with music of extraordinary variety and exuberance. The Bohemian-born Georg Benda (1722-1795) composed perhaps the first and most controversial operatic setting of Romeo and Juliet. Again Mozart championed his delicate and sensitive lyricism and confessed with warm admiration that he kept Benda’s scores close by him. Bampton Classical Opera performed the UK première of this remarkable opera in 2007 and now presents appealing excerpts of its glorious and sensuous music. Bampton Classical Opera will be joined by a stellar cast of soloists as well as the choir Cantandum for this evening’s performance. St John's Smith Square, London DD/MM/YYYY

Details

St John's Smith Square
Smith Square
City of Westminster
London
SW1P 3HA
England

Tuesday 15th November 2016
7:30 PM

Programme

Georg Benda – Romeo and Juliet (excerpts)
Thomas Linley – Ode on the Spirits of Shakespeare

Performers

Caroline Kennedy – soprano
James Harrison – baritone
Thomas Herford – Tenor
Clare Lloyd-Griffiths – soprano
Gilly French – Conductor

Bampton Classical Opera
Bampton Classical Players
Cantandum

Programme Note

The quatercentenary of Shakespeare’s death in April 1616 is marked by rarely-heard music celebrating the enduring impact of the greatest English playwright. Settings by two of the most expressive composers of the age of Mozart are performed on period instruments by Bampton Classical Opera, renowned specialists in rare operatic repertory of the late eighteenth century.

Thomas Linley the Younger (1756-1778) was a precocious composer who became known as the ‘English Mozart’: the two 14-year old composers met in Italy in 1770 becoming good friends. In his masterpiece, the remarkable Ode on the Fairies, Aerial Beingsand Witches of Shakespeare he evokes the supernatural atmosphere of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth with music of extraordinary variety and exuberance.

The Bohemian-born Georg Benda (1722-1795) composed perhaps the first and most controversial operatic setting of Romeo and Juliet. Again Mozart championed his delicate and sensitive lyricism and confessed with warm admiration that he kept Benda’s scores close by him. Bampton Classical Opera performed the UK première of this remarkable opera in 2007 and now presents appealing excerpts of its glorious and sensuous music.

Bampton Classical Opera will be joined by a stellar cast of soloists as well as the choir Cantandum for this evening’s performance.

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