2013 marks the centenary of the composer Benjamin Britten¹s birth. Click on his picture above to go to the britten100 website.
Theo Christie and I (Lucas Evans) will be singing Britten¹s church parables - Curlew River, The Prodigal Son and The Burning Fiery Furnace around the UK and in Saint Petersburg, Russia. We auditioned through Jubilee Opera (a singing group in Aldeburgh) in December where we could sing a suitable song of our choice. Twelve boys auditioned and we were among the five who were picked.
We¹ve begun rehearsing for the first parable Curlew River which is based on a Japanese Noh-Play. It tells the story of a demented mother searching for her kidnapped lost child. In the Curlew River we will play the parts of Acolytes and the spirit of the lost child. The second parable, The Prodigal Son is one of the best known New Testament Parables. It tells the story of a young man who took his will before his father had died. He went off and spent all his money and came back and his father forgave him but his older brother wasn¹t very happy. In this we play the parts of Young Servants and distant tempting voices. The third parable, The Burning Fiery Furnace is set in Babylon in the 6th century BC. It¹s about three men Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego who, refuse to worship Nebuchadnezzer¹s Golden Idol, but are saved from the flames of the furnace by their God, Jehovah. We will play the parts of Entertainers, Attendants and the angel. Some parts of the parables are sung in Latin and all of the parts are played by men. It¹s quite difficult music to learn and sing but it¹s fun to be part of this exciting anniversary. I¹m particularly looking forward to Russia and singing at The Hermitage in Saint Petersburg. But I think that all the performances in Orford, London, and Derbyshire will be very enjoyable.
Theo Christie and I (Lucas Evans) will be singing Britten¹s church parables - Curlew River, The Prodigal Son and The Burning Fiery Furnace around the UK and in Saint Petersburg, Russia. We auditioned through Jubilee Opera (a singing group in Aldeburgh) in December where we could sing a suitable song of our choice. Twelve boys auditioned and we were among the five who were picked.
PERFORMANCES
4 June: The Hermitage, St. Petersburg (Russian première of ŒThe Prodigal Son¹)
5 8 June: St. Ekaterina¹s Church, St. Petersburg
16 19 June: Orford Church, Aldeburgh Festival
3 6 July: Southwark Cathedral, City of London Festival
14 & 15 July: The Church of St. John the Baptist, Buxton Festival
Lucas Evans
Year 6
