Paradise & Pandemonium: Bach & Milton
Stuck in the Garden of Eden with an irresistible temptation and the persuasive voice of Satan, Eve is faced with a moral dilemma. Later, the devil is up to the same trickery in an attempt to reduce Jesus to the same humiliating fate. Covering themes of obedience and defiance, virtue and sin, degradation and redemption, Milton forces us to confront life’s biggest dilemmas. Join us for a dramatic reading of extracts from John Milton’s renowned epic poems Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, brought to you by two acclaimed British actors (to be announced). The readings will be punctuated by three J.S. Bach cantatas with texts linked to Milton’s themes (BWV 19, 54 and 80). Jonathan Darbourne is the musical director.
Confirmed soloists include James Hall (countertenor) and Nick Pritchard (tenor).
6.45pm, Saturday 28 August 2021
Grounds open at 3.30pm for picnicking and exploring, as well as enjoying sound installations and pre-show pop-up performances. The main performance is scheduled to begin at 6.45pm, but may start up to half an hour before the scheduled start time due to changing weather conditions. We therefore recommend that all guests arrive no later than 6.15pm.