Venus and Adonis
- Alternative title
- Masque for the Entertainment of the King, A
- Synopsis
- Last of a four-part programme prepared by by Anthony Lewis showcasing the music of English Baroque composer John Blow. This episode focuses on Blow’s miniature opera that is based on the classical fable of Venus and Adonis. Anthony Lewis conducts the Boyd Neel Orchestra, the BBC Chorus and the Choristers from the London School. With Arnold Goldsbrough playing the harpsichord.
- Series
- John Blow
- Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Medium
- Radio
- Transmission details
- 2 Mar 1949 at 21:40 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)
- Duration
- 50 mins
- Availability
- No archive copy known
Credits
- Music
- John Blow
- Contributor
- Anthony Lewis
- Cast
Alfred Hepworth Huntsman Alfred Hepworth Shepherd Margaret Field-Hyde Cupid Nancy Evans Venus Trevor Anthony Adonis
Additional Details
- Production type
- Operas and Musicals
- Subjects
- Drama; Music
- Keywords
- Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Notes
- General
- 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 lists 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/av66684 (Accessed 17 Nov 2024)