The second act of Venus and Adonis, unconnected with the main plot, deals with the duties of Maids of Honour, represented by the Graces.
Recording & Production
This recording is the first of the music for Venus and Adonis, edited by Bruce Wood for the Purcell Society.
Historical Context
Lady Mary Tudor, the illegitimate daughter of King Charles II, played Cupid in the original production of Venus and Adonis, while her mother, Moll Davies, played Venus.
Interpretation
Theatre of the Ayre, directed by Elizabeth Kenny, aims to reinvent 17th-century works with a spirit of improvisation and entertainment.
Composition History
The librettist for Venus and Adonis, Anne Kingsmill (later Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea), was identified only two years prior to the booklet's publication.
Composition History
John Blow's Venus and Adonis is the last masque ever composed for the Stuart court and served as a model for Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded live at Wigmore Hall, London, on May 3, 2010.
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