Venus and Adonis

Alternative title
Masque for the Entertainment of the King, A
Synopsis
Radio broadcast of John Blow’s miniature opera which is based on the classical fable of Venus and Adonis. Anthony Lewis conducts The Boyd Neel Orchestra and The BBC Singers.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Radio
Transmission details
12 May 1939 at 21:45 (Channel: BBC National Programme)
Duration
55 mins
Availability
No copy extant

Credits

Music
John Blow
Contributor
Anthony Lewis
Cast
Eric GreeneShepherd
Eric GreeneHuntsman
Henry CummingsAdonis
Laelia FinnebergVenus
Margaret Field-HydeCupid
Sibylla MarshallShepherdess
Victor HardingShepherd

Additional Details

Production type
Operas and Musicals
Subjects
Music
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General
English Baroque composer John Blow allegedly wrote this opera around 1682 for Moll Davies and her daughter, Lady Mary Tudor, both of whom also performed in it.
The piece is usually classified either as a semi-opera or a masque, but The New Grove Dictionary of Music names it as the earliest surviving English opera.
Textual information
The author of the libretto is unknown, but Aphra Behn seems to be a likely candidate.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Venus and Adonis". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av37961 (Accessed 13 Dec 2024)