MultiMediva: Programmes
Fame and Fortune - (***COMING SOON***)
Specially commissioned opera by Hugh Collins Rice based on the Roman de Fauvel - the medieval story of how a donkey was made King. UK tour planned 2008.
5 musicians, 2 soloists, 6 chorus, 2 actors, 1 director, 1 technician
Istampitta - (***CURRENT PROJECT***)
Buried deep in the British Library is a rare Italian manuscript containing a unique collection of medieval dances which has baffled scholars for years. Highly complex with a hint of the orient these exotic dances are brought to life with new choreographies or improvisations from dancers drawn from various genres including belly dancing, contemporary dance, flamenco and jazz.
5 musicians, 4 dancers
Amor Ei!!!
A 13th century Galician song cycle by the troubadour Martin Codax, set by the sea at Vigo, portrays a young girl's hopes and fears for her lover on his sea voyage. An atmospheric setting with theatre lighting, film projection and specially commissioned poetry.
4 musicians, 1 dancer, 1 actress, 1 technician
Ave Hildegard
13th century visionary chant merged with 21st century composition.
The breathtaking music of Hildegard von Bingen is performed with a specially written set of pieces based on her work by Hugh Collins Rice.
This programme is also available with projections of Hildegard's many visions which are to be found in her illuminated manuscripts.
5 musicians, 2 singers, 1 narrator
Heavenly Delights and Earthly Pleasures
The celestial music of Hildegard von Bingen is brought to life in this candlelit fusion of music, narration and dance, sharply contrasted with a second half of raunchy tales from the Carmina Burana manuscript. With theatre-lighting.
5 musicians, 2 singers, 2 actors, 1 technician
Miracle
A selection of songs taken from the wondrous Cantigas de Santa Maria (a 14th century Spanish manuscript dedicated to the Virgin Mary), brought to life with projections, theatre and dance. Each song tells of a miracle performed by the Virgin Mary represented in the manuscript by a cartoon-like illustration.
Using these http://www.mediva.co.uk/images as a backdrop, these miracles are doubly portrayed through song and with actors miming the stories as they unfold.
4 musicians, 2 singers, 2 actors, 1 technician
Santa Maria Sacred and Profane
Medieval Spain's obsession with the Virgin Mary is explored with music, dance and poetry. A theatrically inspired concert of two diverse halves.
5 musicians, 1 singer, 1 actress