The only pre-recorded event in this year\u2019s Oxford Lieder Festival, this film has three \u201cleads\u201d: the ever magnificent Ashmolean Museum, the glorious Kirkman double manual harpsichord (1772) played by Julian Perkins and the claret-rich voice of soprano, Anna Cavaliero.\u00a0 Then there\u2019s Xa Strugis, director of the Ashmolean who tells us the history of the museum and its collections along with thoughts about how it will develop in the future. It makes for an interesting, well thought out and compelling hour.<\/p>\n
The Ashmolean is a collection of collections. The original one was assembled by the Tradescants, \u00a0seventeenth century gardeners, with connections in high places, who travelled the world. Elias Ashmole acquired the collection and gave it to the University of Oxford where it opened in a purpose built building in Broad Street in 1683 \u2013 a place of art, science, experiment and research. Unprecedentedly and shockingly (to some) it was open to the public from the start.<\/p>\n
Since them it has acquired many more collections \u2013 through gifts, legacies and purchases –\u00a0 including the Hill Family\u2019s collection of early stringed instruments. The Ashmolean Museum moved to its current building in the mid nineteenth century. \u00a0Today it is working hard at engaging new audiences to tell new stories and at ways of widening its traditionally Eurocentric focus. Sturgis acknowledges that while Asia and North Africa are represented sub-Saharan Africa and Oceana are not and that has to be remedied.<\/p>\n
The recital aspect of this enjoyable offering took us from Barbara Strozzi to Haydn who would, Perkins tells us,\u00a0 have been very familiar with harpsichords of this type. Along the route are songs by Purcell, John Blow, John Eccles and others. The setting is atmospheric with Van Eyck\u2019s Woman and the Bacon Cup behind Perkins and a large canvas depicting a classical scene behind Cavaliero. The room they\u2019re in has a warm, resonant acoustic too.<\/p>\n
Strozzi\u2019s L\u2019Eraclito amoroso is sung without pyrotechnics but with plenty of passion, packed in by Cavaliero who is no mean actor. The televisual closeness means that she\u2019s very exposed but she rises to the challenge with aplomb.<\/p>\n
She finds some lovely bottom notes in Haydn\u2019s The Spirit Song too and she makes his Das leben is ein traum feel light and charming. Meanwhile Perkins ensures that every song is an elegant duet \u2013 and it\u2019s fun to hear him subtly adjusting the dynamics by using the flaps over the strings which are operated with a pedal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The only pre-recorded event in this year\u2019s Oxford Lieder Festival, this film has three \u201cleads\u201d: the ever magnificent Ashmolean Museum, the glorious Kirkman double manual harpsichord (1772) played by Julian Perkins and the claret-rich voice of soprano, Anna Cavaliero.\u00a0 Then … Continue reading