The most famous was “Masque of the Hours” presented by those members of the Cornish Colony on the lawn just up the hill from Blow-Me-Down Farm.

Purcell’s only opera was highly influenced by the English masque, a form of festive courtly entertainment that flourished in 16th and early 17th century Europe, many written by Purcell himself.Īs Louis explains, “These productions eventually became operas, but they are really more entertainment than drama, with dance, spoken dialogue, instrumental music, and singing.” Appropriately enough, the masque was also a favorite diversion for friends of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Although there will be the expected (!) dose of great tragedy, there will also be moments of humor and broad comedy as well.”Įxtraordinary Woman begins with music from Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, written in English in 1607. “Extraordinary Women is more than just the women depicted in the scenes it also highlights the extraordinary women in the cast who play all the roles – female and male.

“ Extraordinary Women came about because I wanted to explore Baroque opera through the lens of its most important feature: women who are larger than life and who are central to determining the fates of their male counterparts,” said Burkot.

Opera North Resident Artists take center stage in selections from operas by Purcell, Monteverdi, Handel and Gluck, presented in concert on Saturday, July 24, with semi-staging and a small orchestra. Opera North’s production of Extraordinary Women, created by ON Artistic Director Louis Burkot, showcases Baroque opera’s bold women: the warrior queen, the wronged wife, the harlot as empress. The earliest Baroque operas drew on classical myths for their subject matter, and the first operatic heroine, by most accounts, was Monteverdi’s Eurydice, the beloved bride whose fatal curiosity led to tragedy. The Baroque period, which runs roughly from 1600 – 1750, is one of the richest and most diverse periods in music.

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