A conversation between folger shakespeare library director michael. Other articles where venus and adonis is discussed. In librettist anne kingsmill finchs version of this pastoral myth, venus, the goddess of love, encourages her lover adonis to heed the call of. In librettist anne kingsmill finchs version of this pastoral myth. The resulting conflict is an emotional rollercoaster of love, desire and grief. As a partial answer to this question, christian curnyn and the early opera company performed john blows venus and adonis at the wigmore hall on thursday 12 march 2020, preceded by a selection of music from matthew locke and christopher gibbons masque cupid and death, with anna dennis soprano, keri fuge soprano and benjamin appl baritone. Based on an episode in the mahabharata, gustav holsts savitri was innovative in its day and still.
Venus and adonis is a long lyric poem written by william shakespeare but based on ancient mythology. Nov 19, 2019 in collaboration with opera lafayette, the folger shakespeare library held an event on november 14, 2019, to explore the libretto for john blows venus and adonis, along with some of the restoration eras female literary voices, notably anne kingsmill finch, countess of winchilsea 16611720. In fact, an early manuscript source is subtitled a masque for the entertainment of the king. Within this genre, venus and adonis was so successful that it was shakespeares most popular published work throughout his lifetime. Sep 17, 2015 venus and adonis is considered by some to be either a semiopera or a masque, but the new grove dictionary of music and musicians names it as the earliest surviving english opera. John blow wrote it for a private performance at the court of king charles ii, probably sometime during 1683. A notable exception is his opera venus and adonis, which he called a masque for the entertainment of the king.
It created a perfectly balanced evening as what is generally seen as the first english opera, despite being described at the time as a masque for the entertainment of the. It is considered by some to be either a semi opera or a masque, but the new grove names it as the earliest known english opera. Ovid let us not forget ovids famous version, found in book 10 of the metamorphoses. May 09, 2020 john blows venus and adonis was originally a masque for the entertainment of king charles ii. Although the opera was premiered sometime in spring 1697 and duly. Venus and adonis with opera lafayette tickets, sun, oct 27. A subtle allusion in titians venus and adonis paintings. Venus beatrice unsworth adonis glyn davenport cupid elaine woods shepherdess alison smith shepherd 1 philip eve. Venus s amorous eagerness is met with adonis s disdainful withdrawal. John blows venus and adonis cupids, graces, hunters, and goddesses come alive in this story about love, magic and mythology. Nso chorus, nso orchestra conductor michael hall director rebecca meitlis designer julia ramos choreographer saffi ashtiany.
Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. Venus is sung by the beautiful colleen marcello, a favorite of buffalos opera sacra which provided props and costumes as well, and adonis is sung by. This production showcases the talents of thomas dunford on lute and as musical director. Venus adonis, thy delightful youth is full of beauty and of truth. One of the most wellknown myths in ovids metamorphoses occurs in book x. Venus adonis, thy delightful youth is full of beauty and. Venus and adonis ar en opera i en prolog och tre akter med musik av john blow. Composed in 1683 and scored for strings and recorders it has a cast of cupids, shepherds, huntsmen and courtiers. Explore the story of venus and adonis through dance and music and an. Shakespeares venus and adonis heres a link to the full text of shakespeares take on the tale.
The poem is pastoral, and at times erotic, comic, and tragic. It is considered by some to be either a semiopera or a masque, but the new grove names it as the earliest surviving english opera. Masque for the entertainment of the king in three acts and a prologue,1683. They never fail to bring out the crystal, the good china, real silverware, and their desserts are the best, made with authentic ingredients. Venus and adonis is considered by some to be either a semiopera or a masque, but the new grove names it as the earliest surviving english opera. In 2018 the brooklyn opera workssva program will present john blows baroque masterpiece venus and adonis, accompanied by a baroque chamber ensemble, awardwinning composer christopher cerrone.
This is a opera featuring many styles of music and a modern version of the legend of venus and adonis. It was written for the court of king charles ii at either london or windsor. Nov 23, 2019 opera lafayette is a class act, always. The work was the first to have been written by a female librettist, anne finch. Venus and adonis venus and adonis is considered by some to be either a semiopera or a masque, but the new grove dictionary of music and musicians names it as the earliest surviving english opera. Venus beatrice unsworth adonis glyn davenport cupid elaine woods shepherdess alison smith shepherd 1 philip eve shepherd 2 andrew connal huntsman stephen hall. Adonis my venus still has something new which forces lovers to be true. Dramatis personae venus adonis cupid first shepherd second shepherd shepherdess huntsman shepherds, shepherdesses, huntsmen and graces little cupids overture maestoso, allegro, tempo primo the prologue the curtain is drawn where is discovered cupid with a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other and arrows by his. The two works have much in common in their dramatic structure, subject matter, length, and level of musical expressiveness.
Under the pen of blow, the gracious pastoral turns into a true tragedy. The opera opens with a french overture, slowquickslow, in the style of lully. The opera tells the story of venus, the goddess of love and of her seduction of adonis. John blows venus and adonis was originally a masque for the entertainment of king charles ii. Venuss heteroerotic desire for adonis with his homoerotic desire for the hunt. Venuss reluctance to surrender coupled with adoniss innocence leads to both a tragic accident and poignant transcendence. Johann christoph pepuschs venus and adonis premiered at londons theatre royal in 1715. Shakespeare has adonis reject venusan ironic and comic development for early readers. Venus s heteroerotic desire for adonis with his homoerotic desire for the hunt. John blow described venus and adonis as a masque, but for all intents and purposes, its an opera, as fully as dido and aeneas is, and it should make anyone who considers the purcell the first english opera think again.
Death is the first character to sing in savitri and the word joy is among the last in the same opera after the resuscitation of savitris beloved satyavan. Besides being a fine evenings entertainment, opera lafayettes performance of john blows venus and adonis on thursday at the corcoran school of the arts was an opportunity to. In antiquity, adonis was worshipped as a god of the seasons who spent each winter in the underworld and returned each spring, causing venus, equated with the earths fertility, to rejoice. With thee the queen of love employs the hours designd for softer joys. Lets seek the shadiest covert of this grove and never, never disappoint expecting love. Louis forget luckily for them and us, they both possess gorgeous voices as well.
The opera explores virtual reality and gaming which takes place on stage in the form of. Desandres instrument delivers the pure baroquestyle with seeming effortless runs. Kennedy center check out this history of the shakespeares venus and adonis. In collaboration with opera lafayette, the folger shakespeare library held an event on november 14, 2019, to explore the libretto for john blows venus and adonis, along with some of the restoration eras female literary voices, notably anne kingsmill finch, countess of winchilsea 16611720. The universitys opera society return to the spotlight with their own promising take. Venus and adonis opera was one of the music good articles, but it has been removed from the list. The poem tells the story of venus, the goddess of love. Like purcells dido and aeneas, it is in fact a true opera, totally successful in concept, original in musical content and moving in the characterization of the protagonists. Adonis is mortally wounded in a boar hunt, ending his relationship with venus as quickly as it had begun. Venus and adonis is an opera in three acts and a prologue by the english baroque composer john blow, composed c. It was first performed before the court at oxford in 1681. E nglish opera begins with venus and adonis, john blows exquisite masterpiece written in 1682 for charles ii.
Opera lafayette opens its 25thanniversary season featuring the 21stcenturys next generation of leadership in early music and dance. Hunters music they rise from the couch when they hear the music. It is considered by some to be either a semiopera or a masque, but the new grove names it as the earliest known english opera. In ghisis engraving, based on his brothers design, we see adonis dead body being nuzzled by the boar near a bare tree in the background. Venuss amorous eagerness is met with adoniss disdainful withdrawal. Yet, how to be certain of a mortals eternal fidelity, however enamored. Venus sophie daneman adonis roderick williams cupid elin manahan thomas pieces.
Nov 22, 2019 besides being a fine evenings entertainment, opera lafayettes performance of john blows venus and adonis on thursday at the corcoran school of the arts was an opportunity to. Adonis venus, when shall i taste soft delights and on thy bosom lie. Brooklyn opera works at the brooklyn music school presents. Inspired by the operas of composers like giovanni battista bononcini and alessandro scarlatti, it was the most substantial effort of the period to reconcile musick to the english tongue. At her urging, the reluctant adonis leaves her bed for the hunt and is. Mar 25, 20 venus and adonis by john blow 1649 1708 roles. He wrote this short drama for a royal salon with the spiritual intensity and the kind of humor allowed by the secular tradition of english masque. Venus is sung by the beautiful colleen marcello, a favorite of buffalos opera sacra which provided props and costumes as well, and adonis is sung by the handsome kyle botsford, who regularly.
The curtain opens and discovers venus and adonis sitting together upon a couch, embracing one another. Mar, 2020 as a partial answer to this question, christian curnyn and the early opera company performed john blows venus and adonis at the wigmore hall on thursday 12 march 2020, preceded by a selection of music from matthew locke and christopher gibbons masque cupid and death, with anna dennis soprano, keri fuge soprano and benjamin appl baritone. On thursday nights menu was composer john blows venus and adonis, or as i am calling this confe. Venus and adonis is an attractive little work, full of skill and invention. Unravel the fascinating elements of opera through play and immersive activities.
Venus and adonis excellent vocal achievement married to a convincing professionalism in production. The work was the first to have been written by a female librettist, anne finch, and tells the tale of venus and the demise of her lover, adonis. It is considered by some to be either a semi opera or a masque, but the new grove names it as the earliest surviving english opera. With blows venus and adonis, opera lafayette shows. Venus and adonis is considered by some to be either a semi opera or a masque, but the new grove names it as the earliest surviving english opera. Jan 24, 2019 venus and adonis is an attractive little work, full of skill and invention.
Venus and adonis is the subject of shakespeare s most popular published work during his lifetime and of what many consider the earliest known english opera. Widely considered the first englishlanguage opera, venus and adonis is a pastoral retelling of ovids timeless story. Venus and adonis is a narrative poem by william shakespeare published in 1593. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake. Feb, 2009 e nglish opera begins with venus and adonis, john blows exquisite masterpiece written in 1682 for charles ii. Nov 22, 2019 douglas williams as adonis and lea desandre as venus in john blows venus and adonis from opera lafayette photo. Dedicated to sacred genres, he composed his sole opera for the entertainment of king charles ii. These brilliant young artists present venus and adonis, the frenchinspired chamber opera which prefigured purcells dido and aeneas. There are suggestions below for improving the article to meet the good article criteria. Venus and adonis from opera lafayette dc theatre scene. Absence can also make the life grow shorter, as venus learns to her detriment.
Douglas williams as adonis and lea desandre as venus in john blows venus and adonis from opera lafayette photo. Venuss invocations of a mythic realm of abstraction, personification, and analogy with adoniss emphasis on the historical realm of particular experience. At her urging, the reluctant adonis leaves her bed for the hunt and is gored to death by a wild boar. This concert from the early opera company, conducted by christian curnyn, presented john blows venus and adonis alongside excerpts from christopher gibbons and matthew lockes cupid and death. It created a perfectly balanced evening as what is generally seen as the first english opera, despite being described at the time as a masque for. Venus s invocations of a mythic realm of abstraction, personification, and analogy with adonis s emphasis on the historical realm of particular experience.
Venus and adonis is an opera in three acts and a prologue by the english baroque composer john blow, composed in about 1683. In it, the roman goddess of love, venus, attempts to seduce the beautiful adonis, a young mortal who is in the end more interested in hunting with his friends than romancing her. But she also fills the role with a rich warmth and even dark. John blow listen to a bit of one of the operatic versions of the myth. Venus me my lovely youth shall find always tender, ever kind. John blows opera, venus and adonis, explores and exploits the themes of power play, manipulation, and yearning. In overall form the opera owes much to french operas of the period, especially those of jeanbaptiste lully. Venus and adonis john blow the opera opens on cupid extolling his own virtues, and explaining to a group of curious and playful shepherds what love is. The kings mistress played venus at the first performance, which has saddled the. Venus and adonis 1683 john blow, composer anne kingsmill finch, librettist.
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