Cotswold Chatterblog

Date: September 18, 2007

Love that moves the sun and other stars…

The Complete Singer touring production of The Coronation of Poppea, by Claudio Monteverdi at 8.00pm on the 22nd September 2007, St. James’ Church, Chipping Campden.

The Complete Singer is an exciting young company, largely comprised of musicians from the London music colleges and the Birmingham Conservatoire, with additional members who hope to pursue post-graduate singing. This newly formed ensemble aims to marry deep theatrical and musical expression. Under the expert tutelage of the singer and director Jenny Miller and the conductor Lesley Anne Sammons, the company will tackle Monteverdi’s last operatic work, written in 1642 and universally acknowledged as a landmark in the genesis of opera.

The dramatic construction of the piece is intricate and compelling, exploring allegorical and historical narrative. Like many Renaissance artists, Monteverdi and his librettist Busenello drew on the classical world for their creation. Their political dramatization of Nero’s court is framed by an allegorical presentation of Virtue, Fortune and Love who each claim to be the supreme force governing human existence. Love’s bold declaration “Today, when I have beaten both of you in a single combat, you will admit that I can change the world”, invites us to contemplate what really compels human action.

Monteverdi’s instinctive understanding for the subtleties of all his characters is remarkable. The Coronation of Poppea is a drama for all time because it boldly confronts complex human truths which are of universal significance. Come and enjoy our original rendition of this masterpiece!

Tickets at Campden Fruit & Veg from 1st September. To reserve places please write to: thecompletesinger@hotmail.co.uk. Alternatively, buy your ticket on the night. £10/£5 (concessions).

(From the Chipping Campden Bulletin. Included with kind permission of Jeremy Green)

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