Birch Tales @ Bloomsbury Festival
Saturday 19 October 2024, 7:30pm
Art Workers’ Guild
6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT
The Picardy Players give a rare glimpse into life in Kyivan Rus’ in the Middle Ages, through music inspired by fascinating personal letters written on strips of birch bark that were unearthed in recent decades—stories of love, heartbreak and everyday life. Original compositions by James Batty draw inspiration from Slavic folk music experienced in Ukraine and Russia to tell these characters’ tales, and are enriched with elements of sight, smell, taste and touch. The programme is framed by two microtonal gems written 400 years apart by Nicola Vicentino and György Ligeti, and uses an otherworldly musical language from the Renaissance and period instruments to bridge the gap between the protagonists’ world and our own.
Mariana Rodrigues soprano
Emma van der Scheer mezzo-soprano
Robert Folkes tenor
Allyn Wu baritone
Madison Marshall, Elizabeth van ’t Voort violas
Lizzie Knatt recorders
Philip Turner lute
Oliver Wass triple harp
James Batty harpsichord
PAST EVENTS
Birch Tales – pilot performance
16 January 2024, 7:45pm
Angela Burgess Recital Hall
Marylebone Road, London. NW1 5HT
The Picardy Players give a rare glimpse into life in Kyivan Rus’ in the Middle Ages, through music inspired by fascinating personal letters written on strips of birch bark that were unearthed in recent decades—stories of love, heartbreak and everyday life. Original compositions by James Batty draw inspiration from Slavic folk music experienced in Ukraine and Russia to tell these characters’ tales, and are enriched with elements of sight, smell, taste and touch. The programme is framed by two microtonal gems written 400 years apart by Nicola Vicentino and György Ligeti, and uses an otherworldly musical language from the Renaissance and period instruments to bridge the gap between the protagonists’ world and our own.
Mariana Rodrigues soprano
Emma van der Scheer mezzo-soprano
Robert Folkes tenor
Allyn Wu baritone
Madison Marshall, Elizabeth van ’t Voort violas
Lizzie Knatt recorders
Philip Turner lute
Bonnie Scott triple harp
James Batty harpsichord
Picardy Players 