Curlew River

St Bartholomew The Great

Direction Peter Thickett
Conductor Freddie Waxman
Set and Costume Design Crispin Lord

Cast:
The Madwoman Richard Robbins
The Ferryman Benjamin Bevan
The Traveller Ivo Almond
The Abbott Tom Herring
The Spirit James Bennett

Curlew River marked a quilting point in the development of Britten's musical style, paving the way for the 'orientalism' that was to pervade his work right up until his death. Taking his inspiration from Japanese gagaku court theatre and classical Noh drama, which he had encountered during his concert tour of the Far East in 1955, Curlew River emerged as a work poised for the exploration of issues surrounding identity and otherness. Written amidst an international landscape fraught with political tensions and with the lingering threat of destruction, Curlew River unfolds as a deeply pathetic meditation on pain, loss and eventual acceptance.