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