Friday, 2 December 2005, at
Rothamsted Manor, a beautiful 17th century manor house 10 mins drive from St. Albans. Parking is free and plentiful!
Tickets are available at £20 single, £35 for a pair, or £60 for 4 Flexicoupons:

6:45pm: Wine and Drinks welcome with snacks 7.30pm: Concert 8.30pm: Post concert reception with the musicians

Opera emerges from the theatre of life

When Claudio Monteverdi wrote his first opera, 'Orfeo and Euradice', in 1607, it is doubtful that either he, or the sponsor - the reigning Gonzaga duke, Vincenzo had any idea that 400 years later this same work would be hallowed as the first great work of opera, and regularly performed worldwide. From that time onwards, the popularity of opera blossomed, and public opera houses sprang up all over Europe heralding not only a dramatic change in the course of western music, but deeper social changes that would inevitably lead to the breakdown of the aristocracy and the society we live in today.

What made opera so popular is that it's sole purpose was to express human emotions. Not the codified, affected manners of the court (except perhaps in farce) but the feelings everyone has and can relate to. This is achieved by the use of sung 'recitative' (reciting the story in dramatic tones with accompaniment to enhance the effect) alternating with beautiful arias or songs which express the prevailing emotions. Quickly, the best singers were in high demand and became the people's heros. Even instrumentalists strove to imitate the best singers, as this was now the ideal sound.