Venus and Adonis

Alternative title

Masque for the Entertainment of the King, A

Synopsis

Radio broadcast of John Blow’s miniature opera which is based on the classical fable of Venus and Adonis. Anthony Lewis conducts the New London Orchestra and the BBC Singers.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

29 Sep 1947 at 18:45 (Channel: BBC National Programme)

Duration

50 mins

Availability

No archive copy known

Credits

Music

John Blow

Contributor

Anthony Lewis

Cast

Margaret Field-Hyde	Cupid
Nora Gruhn	Venus
Trevor Anthony	Adonis

Additional Details

Production type

Operas and Musicals

Subjects

Music

Keywords

opera

Notes

General

English Baroque composer John Blow allegedly wrote this opera around 1682 for Moll Davies and her daughter, Lady Mary Tudor, both of whom also performed in it.
The piece is usually classified either as a semi-opera or a masque, but The New Grove Dictionary of Music lists it as the earliest surviving English opera.

Textual information

The author of the libretto is unknown, but Aphra Behn seems to be a likely candidate.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)