A Yuletide Tale

Philippa Hyde-soprano
Paul Esswood-counter-tenor
Jennifer Janse-cello
Helen Rogers-harpsichord

A seasonal tale told by The Musicke Companye: witty stories of Court affairs, exquisite poetry and prose combined with ravishingly lovely music and imagery. Choreograped, the age-old story of Christmas is interwoven with contemporary accounts of feasting, frosts and sumptuous balls in a beguiling evening of drama and revelry.

Enchanting music by Monteverdi, Grandi, Scarlatti, Purcell and Mozart alongside traditional carols.

 

Christmas with the Pepys, 1662
 
Henry Lawes
Song 'Tis Christmas now'
Anon
Carol 'The Boar's Head'
 
Wassailing!
 
Anon
Song 'Drive the cold winter away'
Carol 'Wassail, wassail all over the town'
 
I sing of a Maiden
 
Anon
Carol 'I sing of a maiden'
Claudio Monteverdi
Song 'Exulta Fillia Sion'
 
'but a poor Sermon'
 
Giovanni Bononcini
Cello sonata in A minor
 
The 'Popish' service
 
Domenico Scarlatti
Duet 'Salve Regina'
 
The arrival of the Pifferai
 
Biago Marini
Song 'Con le stelle'
Marco da Gagliano
Song 'Pastor levate sù'
Duet 'O meraviglie belle'
 
Roman Ceremonyes
 
Alessandro Grandi
Duet 'Hodie nobis de caelo'
 
     
INTERVAL
 
The new-born Babe
 
Anon
Carol 'In dulci jubilo'
 
'Sweet Baby sleep!'
 
Martin Peerson
Ayre 'Upon my lap'
Anon
Song 'Sweet was the song the Virgin sang'
Anon
Duet 'Joseph lieber, Joseph mein'
Anon
The Coventry Carol
 
The Star
 
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Variations on 'Ah, vous dirai-je mamon?'
 
Great Britain's Wonder
 
Henry Purcell
Song 'Stripp'd of their green'
 
The New Year's Ball, 1662
 
Anon
Auld Lang Syne
Thomas Playford
Dance 'Cuckolds all in a row'
Henry Purcell
Song 'Let us Dance'
J.S. Bach
Duet 'Wir eilen mit schwachen'