Music from three centuries interspersed with witty commentary from stand-up classicist Natalie Haynes
Music from three centuries inspired by ancient Greek mythology, interspersed with brilliantly insightful and witty commentary from the acclaimed classicist, author, broadcaster and “reformed comedian” Natalie Haynes.
50 years after the death of Benjamin Britten and the premiere of the piece, the sublime and charismatic mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston is the soloist in his late micro-opera Phaedra. Phaedra’s obsessive love for her stepson and her furious self-loathing are darkly and brilliantly conveyed in this condensed masterpiece.
“Hell hath no fury” is also the mood in Charpentier’s opera about Medea and Haydn’s depiction of Ariadne’s abandonment by Theseus, both sung by Charlston, while male protagonists fare better in Stravinsky’s ballet music and Woolrich’s evocative re-write of a 1640 aria by Monteverdi.
The stories may be tragic, but in the company of Natalie Haynes (A Thousand Ships; BBC Radio 4’s Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics) there will be tears of laughter too as she brings each character into close focus with her razor-sharp humour.
This performance is also taking place in Cambridge and London >>
programme
Woolrich ~ Ulysses Awakes
Charpentier ~ "Quel prix de mon amour" from Médée
Haydn ~ Cantata: Arianna a Naxos
Stravinsky ~ Apollon musagète
Britten ~ Phaedra
performers
Helen Charlston ~ mezzo soprano
Natalie Haynes ~ stand-up classicist
Britten Sinfonia
Zoë Beyers ~ violin / director
