Britten Sinfonia’s Ancient Greek Meze

Love, loss and revenge… join us for a vivid evening of music based on ancient Greek myths, interspersed with illuminating, witty contributions from stand-up classicist Natalie Haynes.

This event marks 50 years since the death of composer Benjamin Britten, with the sublime mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston the soloist in his late micro-opera Phaedra. The contrasts between Phaedra's disgust at her own obsession with her stepson and the heartfelt expressions of her love for him 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, while male protagonists fare better in Stravinsky's ballet music and Woolrich's shimmering re-write of a Monteverdi aria. The stories may be tragic, but in the company of comedian and classicist Natalie Haynes (BBC Radio 4’s Stand Up for the Classics) there will be tears of laughter too. The doomed woman stereotype provides plenty of provocative material.

Programme

John Woolrich Ulysses Awakes
Marc-Antoine Charpentier Quel prix de mon amour
Joseph Haydn Cantata: Arianna a Naxos
Igor Stravinsky Apollon musagète
Benjamin Britten Phaedra

Performers

Helen Charlston mezzo soprano
Natalie Haynes stand-up classicist
Britten Sinfonia