Everything you need to know about VIARDOT200
Oborne, Dorset, 1-3 April 2022
The weekend's events
Saturday Afternoon - 2.30pm to 3.30pm Introducing Pauline Viardot
A Recital by Katie Bray, Susanna Stranders (piano) and Robert Manasse (flute) of songs and music written by Pauline Viardot
Saturday Evening - 6 to 7.30pm with a repeat performance at 8.30 until 10pm Cinderella
Pauline Viardot's comic opera Cendrillon (1904). This is the world-premiere of a new English translation by Jeremy Sams for Cameratina
Sunday Afternoon - 2pm to 3.30pm What it takes to prepare a world premiere!
An open workshop on the new commissions from Dani Howard and Lilly Vadaneaux based on the poem Enough by Ivan Turgenev. The composers work with Katie Bray, Susanna Stranders and Ellipsis to realise their new works.
Sunday Evening - 5.30pm to 8pm (including interval) Chez Pauline
An evocation of Pauline Viardot's Belle Epoch Parisian Salon. This will feature the world premieres of the two new commissions for Katie Bray and Ellipsis by Dani Howard and Lilly Vadaneaux plus songs, readings and recitals from Viardot's friends including Ivan Turgenev, Clara Schumann, George Sand as well as Chopin, Faure, Gounod, Tolstoy and Saint-Saens
Gentlemen are invited to wear Black Tie for Chez Pauline.
Further listening
We were pleased that Diana Ambache of the Ambache Trust was able to join us for our London lunchtime concert on 19th November.
While much of the discussion was of Pauline Viardot, it was not surprising that Diana was asked what other great women composers deserve greater recognition. Rather than bring a few choice names to mind, Diana promised a fuller list of her favourites, which she duly delivered the following day.
As the list is a superb miscellany of terrific composers, we felt all our subscribers might want to have a look at the list and choose some gems for themselves
On the operatic front
Sophie Gail: Mlle Launay a le Bastille
Pauline Thys: La Pomme de Turquie, 1838 (info in this book)
Clemence de Grandval 1868: Piccolino
and others
Cecile Chaminade
Imogen Holst: Benedick and Beatrice, (based on Shakespeare, 1951)
Jane Vieu has written some fairy-tale-based stuff, which sounds suitable, they might be published by Editions Max Eschig (but you have to search quite hard). Arlette, 1904
Loisa Puget: The Evil Eye
Mary Carr Moore: The Flaming Arrow, 1922, & various
And here
Alice Mary Smith: Gisela of Rudesheim, 1865:
And here
Ethel Smyth: various
Germaine Tailleferre: various
Phyllis Tate: The Lodger, 1969
Nicola LeFanu: several, listed
Judith Weir: various
And for sheer ideas, you can't beat this, however, you'll have to check access and further background.
On the song front - there are a lot; here are some composers worth exploring:
Maude Valerie White
Romance a Josephine
Opera and Oratorio Arias
Fanny Mendelssohn
Margaret Bonds
Amy Beach 12 Songs
Chaminade songs
Chaminade
Rebecca Clarke
Ethel Smyth
Elizabeth Maconchy
Elizabeth Poston
Madeleine Dring also set
more Shakespeare
and John Betjeman
and
and
The practicalities
The Music Venue
St. Cuthbert's Church, Oborne is a small, rural church, seating just 80 people. St Cuthbert's has a history as a music venue, being the home of Opera in Oborne for over ten years.
There are a few things which you might find helpful to know about in advance of your visit:
Address - St Cuthbert’s Church, Oborne, Dorset DT9 4LA
Parking - The church is around 250 metres from the Grange Hotel, so audience members can easily walk. There will be a shuttle minibus available from the hotel to the church, beginning 30 minutes before the start of each performance. There is some limited parking at the church if you would prefer to drive.
Disabled access - St Cuthbert’s church provides disabled access via portable wheelchair ramps. If guests would like the ramps to be available, please contact Nigel Masters in advance of the performance. Disabled toilet facilities are available in the village hall about 50 yards from the church.
Seating - There is no numbered seating for the performances and seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. If guests have a special need to sit in a particular part of the church, please contact Nigel Masters and he will endeavour to organise places accordingly.
Facilities - A portaloo will be at the church or else the village hall will be available, about 50 yards from the church.