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"There is no wisdom without a mixture of madness." Aristotle's famous dictum captures both the madness that is part of wisdom, and the wisdom that is part of madness. We explore this connection through the responses of composers and writers from across the centuries.
guest artists
Ilana Zarankin, soprano
Bruce Kelly, baritone
Andrew Moodie, actor/reader
music
Henry Purcell: Mad Songs for soprano, strings and continuo. Texts by various writers.
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Songs of William Blake for soprano and oboe.
John Plant: Insomnia for soprano and saxophone. Text by Marina Tsvetaeva.
Mitch Leigh, arr. Laura Jones: 'The Impossible Dream' from Man of La Mancha for baritone, oboe, violin, viola and cello. Lyrics by Joe Darion.
Alice Ping Ye Ho: The Madness of Queen Charlotte for flute, viola, cello and piano. Text by Phoebe Tsang. *Commissioned work, world premiere*
Peter Maxwell Davies: Eight Songs for a Mad King for baritone, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, harpsichord and percussion. Words by Randolph Stow and George III.
spoken word
Selections from the letters, diaries and memoirs of visionaries, seers and artists exploring the margins of reality.