Samling Academy Opera, 2018

Come, ye Sons of Art & Venus and Adonis

Music director John Butt conducted the Dunedin Consort in Samling Academy Opera’s production of Blow’s Venus and Adonis and Purcell’s Come, ye Sons of Art. Directed by Samling Artist Miranda Wright, choreographed by Mandy Demetriou and starring Samling Artist countertenor Tim Morgan as Cupid, our Academy Singers presented this double-bill of Blow’s masterpiece, considered the first English opera, and Purcell’s much-loved Baroque ode dedicated to Queen Mary. Performances took place at The Witham in Barnard Castle and Sage Gateshead.

See photos on our Facebook page here.

Come, ye Sons of Art

An Ode for Queen Mary’s Birthday
Music Henry Purcell
Libretto Nahum Tate (attrib.)

Come, ye sons of art Tim Morgan
Sound the trumpet Rachel Bird & Lewis Cullen
Strike the viol Lewis Cullen
The day that such a blessing Benjamin Laxton
Bid the virtues Ana Fernández Guerra (Oboe obbligato Robert de Bree)
These are the sacred charms Peter Dunn
See nature rejoicing Emily Barnes & Patrick Owston

Venus and Adonis

A masque for the entertainment of the King
Music John Blow
Libretto Anne Finch (attrib.) or Aphra Behn (attrib.)

Venus Zoë Jackson
Adonis Patrick Owston
Cupid Tim Morgan
Shepherd Jordan Carlton
Shepherdess Emily Barnes
First Shepherd Toby Ward
Second Shepherd Benjamin Laxton
Third Shepherd Lewis Cullen
Huntsman Lewis Cullen, Jordan Carlton, Toby Ward, Benjamin Laxton
Little Cupids Emily Barnes & Rachel Bird
Graces Ana Fernández Guerra, Rachel Bird, Peter Dunn

Dunedin Consort

Director/Harpsichord John Butt
Violins Alida Schat & Sarah Bevan Baker
Viola Alfonso Leal del Ojo
Bass Violin Alison McGillivray
Violone Bill Hunt
Oboes/Recorders Robert de Bree & Oonagh Lee
Theorbo Alex McCartney
Music Director John Butt

Production Team

Director Miranda Wright
Movement and Choreography Mandy Demetriou
Lighting Design Alex Edwards
Harpsichord Technician William Hendry
Wardrobe Manager Charlotte Heslop
Photography Mark Pinder & Jen Hart

 

Samling Academy Opera Associate Sponsor

Zoë Jackson and Patrick Owston

Emily Barnes, Tim Morgan and Rachel Bird

John Butt and the Dunedin Consort