A celebration of the Bard’s most famous lyrics
120 Lovers and Counting is a celebration of the Bard’s most famous lyrics, as set by composers from Handel to Verdi, Thomas Arne to Johnny Dankworth. Featuring (amongst others) a tempestuous bee, three weird sisters, a duplicate love letter, low flying fairies, and the most set Shakespeare lyric of all time – but you’ll have to come to the show to find out what that is!
Originally commissioned by Dulwich Picture Gallery to tie in with a major exhibition of “Shakespeare in Art”, 120 Lovers and Counting is a Bard-based, chocolate-box selection of wonderful music, laced with humour yet rich with musical excellence. The show features a revealing variety of Shakespeare styles and sounds from opera, jazz, music theatre and art song, to tunes the Bard himself might have hummed along to.
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“Congratulations on a really good programme. Many commented on how much work you had put into the research and what fun it all was.”
The Chairman, Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery[/blockquote]
From Thomas Morley’s classic and compelling settings to modern song-smith Stephen Sondheim’s laid back yet bitter sweet style, there’s a wealth of styles and emotions to explore.
120 Lovers and Counting also includes a new setting by Hatstand’s composing baritone Bryan Kesselman, written especially for the show.
The show toured to a varied group of venues, including village halls in Hampshire, Lincs, and Notts under their rural touring schemes, plus Uttoxeter Town Hall, Woolfenden Hall and Downpatrick Arts Centre in Northern Ireland.
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120 Lovers and Counting
Make a song and dance about your next exhibition with Hatstand Opera – call us on 01252 511762.
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