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VARAZDIN, CROATIA
16th – 25th August 2013.
The courses will start at 4 p.m. on 16th August in Music School
The final performancee will be at 8 p.m. on 25th August in
Croatian National Theatre
The Aestas Musica Summer School invites students and young
professional musicians and dancers from all over the world to
explore historically aware performance practices under the
guidance of top international specialists, in the unique Baroque
surroundings of Varazdin, Croatia.
HENRY
PURCELL: THE FAIRY QUEEN
Libretto: THOMAS BETTERTON
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HENRY PURCELL
Born in 1659, Henry
Purcell was the finest and most original composer of his
day. Unfortunately he was to live a very short life (he died
in 1695) but he was able to enjoy flourishing in the period
that followed the Restoration of the monarchy after the
Puritan Commonwealth period and make full use of the renewed
flowering of music. Purcell spent much of his short life in
the service of the Chapel Royal as a composer, organist and
singer. With considerable gifts as a composer, he wrote
extensively for the stage, particularly in a hybrid musico-dramatic
form of the time, for the church and for popular
entertainment, a master of English word-setting and of
contemporary compositional techniques for instruments and
voices. He wrote music in a number of genres. His opera Dido
and Aeneas (1689) is notable for achieving a high degree of
dramatic intensity within a narrow framework. This he
followed with the “semi-operas” King Arthur (1691), The
Fairy Queen (1692), and The Indian Queen (1695). He
also wrote much incidental music, some 250 songs, 12
fantasias for viol consort, and many anthems and services.
He is regarded as the greatest English composer after
William Byrd and before the 20th
century. |
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THE FAIRY QUEEN
The Fairy-Queen was
first performed on 2 May 1692 at the Queen's Theatre, Dorset
Garden in London by the United Company. The author or at
least co-author of the libretto was presumably Thomas
Betterton, the manager of Dorset Garden Theatre, with whom
Purcell worked regularly. This belief is based on an
analysis of Betterton's stage directions.[2] A collaboration
between several playwrights is also feasible.[3]
Choreography for the various dances was provided by Josias
Priest, who also worked on Dioclesian and King Arthur, and
who was associated with Dido and Aeneas.
A letter describing the original performance shows that the
parts of Titania and Oberon were played by children of eight
or nine.[4] Presumably other fairies were also played by
children; this affects our perspective on the staging.
Following the huge success of his operas Dioclesian (1690)
and King Arthur (1691), Purcell composed The Fairy-Queen in
1692.
The English tradition of semi-opera, to which The
Fairy-Queen belongs, demanded that most of the music within
the play be introduced through the agency of supernatural
beings, the exception being pastoral or drunken characters.
All the masques in The Fairy-Queen are presented by Titania
or Oberon. Originally Act I contained no music, but due to
the work's enormous success it was revived in 1693, when
Purcell added the scene of the Drunken Poet and two further
songs later on in the work. |
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INSTRUMENTALISTS
Previous experience
in historical performance is not essential.
We an assist string players by providing period bows and gut
strings if needed.
Modern oboe and flute players are welcome.
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VOICE
Classes for students, singers pursuing professional careers and
amateur singers. Participants who would like to perform as
soloists at the final performance are welcome to prepare a
picece of their own choice for an audition.
There will be an opportunity for all course participants to take
part in the choir performance at the Cathedral. |
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DANCE
Exploration of dances from European courts, from the Renaissance
to the late Baroque.
The course is open to professionals and amateur dancers, as well
as musicians willing to find the roots of the music they often
play. Please bring dance shoes. |
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CONCERTS AND FINAL
PERFORMANCE
All participants have the
opportunity to perform solo and chamber works in public
concerts. Participants will also take part in a semi-staged
production of Henry Purcell " The Fairy Queen" at the Varazdin
Baroque style theatre.
Please bring clothing for the concert performances: Dark clothes
or some nice dresses for girls / dark trousers and white shirts
for boys. For the opera performance you will be outfitted in
real costumes.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT TUTORS BY E-MAIL ABOUT PIECES FOR
THE CONCERT PROGRAMMES. |
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Aestas Musica is a Registered UK Charity (No. 1063202)
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