This Shakespeare sequence is a mini-opera for soprano, baritone and piano.
There is dialogue between the seven musical items which takes a fresh look at the badinage between Beatrice and Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing). Hilary Spiers has freely compiled this hybrid libretto from a variety of Shakespearean sources.
Pragmatically, the piano accompanist acts as a third (seated) character for a total of just seven spoken lines to facilitate textual cohesion. The characters act out the scenario, which is interspersed with song settings using the following texts:
Under the Greenwood Tree (As You Like It)
Come Away, Come Away Death (Twelfth Night, II iv)
O Mistress Mine (Twelfth Night)
Sonnets XL (1-4) and CXX (1-8)
It was a Lover and His Lass (As You Like It, V iii)
Wedding is Great Juno’s Crown (As You Like It, V iv)
Sonnet X (13-14)
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.