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Venus and Adonis

Hannah French presents a performance of the earliest surviving English opera: John Blow's Venus and Adonis. The performance features the Dunedin Consort conducted by John Butt.

Hannah French presents a performance of John Blow's Venus and Adonis for Valentine's Day. The earliest surviving English opera, which served as the model for Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, was written for the court of King Charles II in 1683 and subtitled "A masque for the entertainment of the king". An early manuscript records that the king's former mistress Moll Davies sang the part of Venus, and their illegitimate ten year old daughter Lady Mary Tudor took the part of Cupid. In today's performance recorded last year at the Rennie Mackintosh Church in Glasgow, Mhairi Lawson is Venus, Matthew Brook Adonis, and Jessica Leary Cupid. The Dunedin Consort is conducted by John Butt.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 14 Feb 2016 14:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • John Blow

    Venus and Adonis

    Performer: John Butt. Performer: Mhairi Lawson. Performer: Jessica Leary. Performer: Matthew Brook. Performer: Dunedin Consort.

  • Johann Christoph Pepusch

    Venus and Adonis (Overture)

    Orchestra: The Harmonious Society of Tickle‐Fiddle Gentlemen.
    • RAMEE : RAM1109.
    • RAMEE.
    • 26.

Broadcast

  • Sun 14 Feb 2016 14:00
    BBC Radio 3

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