PARADISE & PANDEMONIUM
Stuck in the Garden of Eden with an irresistible temptation and the persuasive voice of Satan, Eve is faced with a moral dilemma. Later, the devil is up to the same trickery in an attempt to reduce Jesus to the same humiliating fate.
A dramatic journey through John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained woven into J. S. Bach’s cantatas 19, 54, and 80, as well as music by J. C. Bach (the elder) and Heinrich Schütz.
Saturday 28 August 2021
Guests were invited to arrive early to explore the grounds, experience the sound installations & Bill Woodrow’s sculpture, before watching the concert featuring acclaimed actors & soloists, as well as a full baroque orchestra and choir.
AUDIENCE RESPONSES
“From the moment we arrived, the ambience was so welcoming”
“…very unique because of the setting, both informal and a high quality of production”
“…a ground-breaking event… the poetry and music worked so well together”
Narrator Evelyn Miller
Satan Simon Callow CBE
Jesus Ukweli Roach
Director Jonathan Darbourne
Soprano Betty Makharinsky
Alto Helen Charlston
Tenor Nick Pritchard
Baritone Patrick Alexander Keefe
Vache Baroque Band
Leader Catherine Martin
Vache Baroque Choir
featuring 2021 Young Artists
Vache Baroque Children’s Choir
Lead Animateur Suzzie Vango
Animateur Gabriella Liandu
Sculptor Bill Woodrow
Sound Installations Dan Samsa, Naomi Burrell & Jonathan Darbourne
Lighting Designer Andrew Ellis
Sound Technician Peter Heaps
Videographer Ben Tomlin
Co-produced with Milton’s Cottage
Dramatic readings of extracts from John Milton’s renowned epic poems Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained will be woven into three cantatas by J.S. Bach: BWV 19, 54, and 80.
Stuck in the Garden of Eden with an irresistible temptation and the persuasive voice of Satan, Eve is faced with a moral dilemma. Later, the devil is up to the same trickery in an attempt to reduce Jesus to the same humiliating fate.
Covering themes of obedience and defiance, virtue and sin, degradation and redemption, the poetry of Milton and music of Bach force us to confront life’s biggest dichotomies.
WHAT TO EXPECT
We encourage you to arrive early to explore the beautiful grounds, experience the sound installations & Bill Woodrow’s sculpture, savour the food on offer from Rosehip+Rye, or treat yourself to a cocktail from the VBF bar, before watching the concert, featuring acclaimed actors, leading vocal soloists, a full baroque orchestra, a children’s and professional choir.
3.30pm
6.45pm
Grounds Open
Main Performance
Running time is c. 85 minutes.
There will be a short interval.
ACTORS & SOLOISTS
Narrator
Satan
Jesus
Conductor
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Baritone
Evelyn Miller
Simon Callow CBE
Ukweli Roach
Jonathan Darbourne
Betty Makharinsky
Helen Charlston
Nick Pritchard
Patrick Alexander Keefe