What is a Masque?
A Masque is a theatrical spectacle combining music, drama, song and dance. Once performed in the royal courts in the 16th and 17th centuries, masques were lavish affairs that combined artistic performance with aristocratic socialising and participation.
Today masques are very seldom performed, so we are delighted to be able to announce that “Cupid and Death”, written by James Shirley in 1653, will be presented at the Glebe Cafe Church on 30th and 31st May, 2014. With music composed by Matthew Locke and Christopher Gibbons performed on early instruments, with drama and dance to match, this will be a rare opportunity to experience one of the few entertainments to emerge from the turbulent era of Commonwealth England.
Shirley’s “Cupid and Death” is loosely based on the fable by Aesop. By chance, both Cupid and Death come to stay at the same Inn, but when they depart the next day, they unwittingly carry the wrong weaponry. What chaos will ensue? Can order be restored? A cast of intriguing and unexpected characters bring this wise and witty tale to life for modern audiences, while satirising the high and mighty of their day.
Not to be missed!
When and Where?
Friday 30th May 7pm, 2014
Saturday 31st May 2pm and 7pm, 2014
Glebe Café Church, 37 St Johns Road, Glebe (Sydney)
Bookings: Tickets through ClassikON www.classikon.com
(choose date first) or go to direct links at http://www.cupidanddeath.com/cupidanddeath.com/Concert_Information.html
Poster PDF Enquiries contact info
About the production: (see www.cupidanddeath.com)
Words by James Shirley
Music by Matthew Locke and Christopher Gibbons
Produced by Imogen Granwal & Tara Hashambhoy
Directed by Nadia Piave
Choreography by Fiona Garlick
Cast:
Chamberlain – Owen Elsley
Nature – Hester Wright
Mercury – Neil Kirkby
Host/Despair – Peter Williams
Cupid – Vanilla Tupu
Death – John Barnard/cast members
Chorus – Elli Bortolotti, Jenny Duck-Chong, Richard Black, Richard Bell
Dancing by The Early Dance Consort
Fiona Garlick – John Barnard – Raffaele Arcamone – cast
Instrumentalists
Raymond Harvey – Harpsichord
Samantha Cohen – Theorbo
Bridget Crouch and Tara Hashambhoy – Violins
Imogen Granwal – Cello
What better way to deepen our appreciation of the dance movements of the Bach Suites than through dance itself? Baroque cellists Rosanne Hunt and Josephine Vains and baroque violinist Shane Lestideau collaborate with Fiona Garlick and John Barnard of Sydney’s Early Dance Consort in an exquisite program of works by Bach, Lully, Couperin, Marais and Scottish composers of the eighteenth century.