Alexander Chance and Toby Carr Programme

Concert Programme Saturday 11th June 2022

Drop Not, Mine Eyes

Based around a triptych of songs written by John Danyel in honour of a mourning widow, this programme charts the emotional range of the Elizabethan lute song, or Aire, as composed by English lutenists such as John Dowland, Thomas Campion and Thomas Ford. It ends with an exploration of how the lute could be used in later works during the Stuart period, chiefly by Henry Purcell.

JOHN DOWLAND (1563-1626) Flow my Tears

Can she excuse my wrongs?

Praeludium (lute solo)

I saw my lady weep

JOHN DANYEL (1564-1626)

Grief, keep within

Drop not, mine eyes

Have all our passions

THOMAS FORD (1580-1648)

What then is Love, sings Corridon

JOHN DOWLAND

Mignarda (lute solo)

THOMAS FORD

Fair, sweet, cruel

JOHN DANYEL

He whose desires are still abroad Pavan (lute solo)

THOMAS CAMPION (1567-1620)

The cypress-curtain of the night Never weather-beaten sail

I care not for these ladies

JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY (1632-1687) arranged by Robert de Visée (1659-1695)

Entrée d’Apollon (lute solo)

HENRY PURCELL (1659-1695)

O Solitude

Evening Hymn

Alexander Chance has just this year become the first countertenor to win the International Handel Singing Competition, also winning the Audience Prize. His many other recent successes include the role of Oberon for Grange Opera’s production of Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Toby Carr has performed with most of the principal period instrument ensembles in the UK. These include the Academy of Ancient Music, the English Concert, La Nuova Musica and Dunedin Consort. He is a specialist in 17th century song accompaniment.