Shakespeare in Love
With a programme inspired by one of the most famous films about Shakespeare, British soprano Angela Hicks and lutenist Mateusz Ławniczak invite the audience to the world of the Bard and his timeless tales of love. The concert features exquisite songs of the English Renaissance by masters such as John Dowland, Thomas Morley and John Danyel – the very melodies that once resounded in The Globe Theatre and at the court of Queen Elizabeth I.
This is an intimate, poetic evening where the delicate sound of the lute intertwines with the pure soprano voice, weaving a musical story of love, longing and the beauty of Elizabethan England.
Historical context
The turn of the 16th and 17th centuries in England was a period of musical transformation, when many composers abandoned polyphonic writing in favour of solo songs with lute accompaniment. Thus emerged the genre of the ayre – short, lyrical pieces that quickly gained immense popularity. The best example is John Dowland’s The First Booke of Ayres, which saw five reprints within less than twenty years.
This repertoire – full of emotion, refinement and melodic beauty – is inseparably linked with the Elizabethan stage. Many songs of the time were incorporated into London theatre productions, either embedded within the plays or performed during interludes. Works by Robert Johnson, Thomas Morley and others accompanied Shakespeare’s plays, from The Tempest and Othello to As You Like It and The Merry Wives of Windsor.
The programme Shakespeare Songs consists entirely of music that was either integral to Shakespeare’s dramas or very likely performed in connection with them. It offers a musical journey to the very heart of an era where poetry and sound merged into a unified theatrical and musical experience.
Artists
Angela Hicks – British soprano specialising in historical performance. She performs internationally with leading early music ensembles, praised for the purity and expressive power of her voice.
Mateusz Ławniczak – lutenist and singer, an active soloist and chamber musician dedicated to early music. His work combines performance with research into Renaissance and Baroque performance practice.