Myths and Legends

Meet the mythical creatures of song and opera

Solveig, the Lorelei, Gretchen or Marguerite, Vilia – they will all be there. Sitting on a rock in the Rhine, the legendary maiden lures sailors to dash their ship upon the treacherous rocks as she sings her tale. An old German folk song tells the story simply but Liszt makes a dramatic scena out of it. Goethe’s legend of Faust has inspired composers down the ages, not least Schubert in Gretchen am spinnrade.

There will be tales of masked balls with dancers aux masques et bergamasques in music by Fauré (Mandoline), the eternal lone woman waiting for her man to return from war in music by Duparc (Au pays ou se fait la guerre) and legendary characters from mythology in Mozart’s tale of Cupid, Narcissus and Silvie in Dans un bois solitaire.

Oh and the nightingale singing in Berkeley Square? Just a myth!

Admission is free but you are invited to make a donation to cover the cost of the series. Refreshments from 3.30 and during the interval.

Performers

Elizabeth Charlesworth (soprano) and Richard Taylor (piano)