19:30-20:15, Tuesday 5th September 2023
The Cockpit
Music & Words: Phoenix Rousiamanis
Songs of Descent is a monodrama for singer and Sinfonietta ensemble by trans composer Phoenix Rousiamanis (they/she) that retells the myth of Persephone’s descent as an allegory to psychological descent and queer experience. It is a surreal gothic tale about compassion and finding beauty in the ugliest and darkest of contexts. This genre-defying piece makes use of extreme pacing that brings out the horror of the narrative in a violent yet beautiful sound-world with long stretches of ferocious sounds, obsessively reoccurring passages and unexpected explosions of angst.
You can download programme notes for Songs of Descent here.
Age Rating: 18+
Content Advisory: to see content advisories for Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival 2023 shows, click here.
Produced by Phoenix Rousiamanis
Venue: The Cockpit, Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH.
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Cast:
Music, text, concept: Phoenix Rousiamanis
Vocalist: Rowan Lark
Conductor: Rory Storm
Composer: Phoenix Rousiamanis
Singer: Rowan Lark
Conductor: Rory Storm
Direction: Phoenix Rousiamanis, Rowan Lark, Rory Storm
Flute: Emily Revil
Oboe: Izy Cheesman
Clarinet: Andy Mellor
Bassoon: Sarah Keen
Horn in F: Thomas Edwards
Trumpet: Alex Huxley
Trombone: James Hunt
Percussion: Josh Savage
Piano: Athanasia Kontou
Harp: Imogen Garnet
Violin I: Will McGahon
Violin II: Elisabeth Lister
Viola: Jeanette Szeto
Violoncello: Lili Holand-Fricke
Double bass: Joanna Moura
Music, text, concept: Phoenix Rousiamanis
Vocalist: Rowan Lark
Conductor: Rory Storm
Composer: Phoenix Rousiamanis
Singer: Rowan Lark
Conductor: Rory Storm
Direction: Phoenix Rousiamanis, Rowan Lark, Rory Storm
Flute: Emily Revil
Oboe: Izy Cheesman
Clarinet: Andy Mellor
Bassoon: Sarah Keen
Horn in F: Thomas Edwards
Trumpet: Alex Huxley
Trombone: James Hunt
Percussion: Josh Savage
Piano: Athanasia Kontou
Harp: Imogen Garnet
Violin I: Will McGahon
Violin II: Elisabeth Lister
Viola: Jeanette Szeto
Violoncello: Lili Holand-Fricke
Double bass: Joanna Moura