John Blow's Venus & Adonis

Programme
John Blow: Venus & AdonisAbout
"For him that's faithless, wild and gay
Who with Love's pain does only play
Take some affected, wanton she
As faithless and as wild as he."Vocatio:Responsio's summer season begins with a concert performance of a work named by The New Grove as the earliest surviving English opera. John Blow's Venus and Adonis was composed around 1683 for the court of King Charles II, and is based on the Classical myth of Venus and Adonis, which was also the basis for William Shakespeare's poem of the same name. While this piece doesn't set Shakespeare's verse, it appears to be inspired by it, as Blow's anonymous librettist draws upon the same mythological narrative as Shakespeare had done, with Adonis turned into a cautious youth who desires hunting above love (despite Venus' persistent efforts).As well as a performance in Oxford's gorgeous Pusey House, we are also excited to bring this project to Stratford-upon-Avon (our debut event there) in the very church where the graves of William Shakespeare and other family members can be found.