Nicola Porpora’s 1708 opera, L’Agrippina is revived for the first time since is its premiere – combining exquisite music and engaging characters with newly commissioned multimedia visual design – breathing life into this 300-year-old work.
Director – Daisy Evans
Music Director – Andrew Kirkman
Baroque Orchestra – Musical and Amicable Society
Libretto by Nicole Giuvo
Recitatives performed in English
Arias performed in the original Italian
Amid the turmoil and politics of the courts of the first Roman emperors one woman rises to prominence. Agrippina fought for her family and her empire – a true matriarch – in spite of the powerful forces that surrounded her.
Porpora’s first opera, revived for the first time since its premiere in 1708, L’Agrippina explores the relationships and politics at play in court. Wife of Germanicus, Roman General and heir to the Empire, Agrippina finds herself amid an intricate web of allies, enemies, would-be suitors, and comedically amorous servants – relationships that are spun out over enchanting and vibrant music that hints at the virtuosity of the composer in his later years.
Directed by Silent Opera Artistic Director, Daisy Evans, with a cast of some of Europe’s finest early opera singers and featuring the baroque orchestra of the Musical and Amicable Society. L’Agrippina is produced by Barber Concerts and conducted by Professor Andrew Kirkman, Director and founder of The Binchois Consort.
15th October – Fantastic Symphony
Berlioz Overture, Les Francs-juges
Weber Clarinet Concerto No 2 in E flat major
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
Michael Lloyd Conductor
Michael Webb Clarinet
From a French revolutionary, an overture to an unfinished opera about secret courts, and a celebrated symphony like no other before, with wild passions and a witches’ Sabbath.
Berlioz’s contemporary, Weber, wrote his brilliant concerto for a virtuoso, and it shows!
10th December – Russian Dance
Stravinsky Petrushka (1947 version)
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet (excerpts)
Michael Lloyd Conductor
Stravinsky combines colourful Russian folk tunes with the drama of a tale of love and jealousy among the puppets at the Shrovetide fair. Prokofiev takes his love story from Shakespeare’s most famous play, but the results are just as mesmerising.
Step into the exciting and glamorous world of the 1930s and hear Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin & more performed in the Orchestra’s immersive silver screen spectacle. Leave the cares of the 21st Century behind you as Alex Mendham & his Orchestra take you back into an exciting party show atmosphere.
This young vibrant orchestra will showcase hot rhythms, sweet melodies in an evening of unforgettable music. The beautiful Dunlop Sisters and charismatic Alex Mendham will serenade you with the evocative, haunting and witty lyrics of these timeless standards.
Alex Mendham and His Orchestra channel the magical, timeless quality of the music and lead you into an escapist world from another era. The setting and the look of the Orchestra will be like nothing you have experienced before. Even the attire and instruments are original.
Alex Mendham formed his Orchestra to faithfully recreate the music he loves from the 1920s/30s.
This passion has led to the Orchestra to perform around the World and across the U.K. With sell out concerts at Music Festivals at home and abroad. From smart concert halls to Russian Palaces, this Orchestra has only just begun in its quest to bring back the music and the style of the 1920s/30s.
You may have seen them on BBC Television or heard them on the radio, this is your chance to see them live!
Spend the evening with heart throb Martin Kemp – bassist for the legendary 80s band Spandau Ballet, star of Hollywood films and ex-EastEnders bad boy.
Martin will reminisce with the audience about his younger, wild days in one of the world’s most famous pop groups; his award winning TV career; and his 19 year marriage to Shirlie Holliman (of Pepsi and Shirley).
