Portrait of Edith Sitwell (1887-1964) by Roger Fry
We are very pleased to promote the next production by Places and Spaces, in partnership with Operasmith & Co, a performance of William Walton’s Facade: An Entertainment. Containing settings of Edith Sitwell’s surrealist poetry, recited by Silvia Colloca, Simon Lobelson, featuring the Sirius Chamber Ensemble conducted by Luke Spicer: thirty-one musical vignettes that celebrate the eccentricities of our inner and outer selves.
In the 1920’s, William Walton and Edith Sitwell’s musical miniatures caused an outrage when performed with their scandalous mix of musical styles and absurdist prose. The cryptic words spoken through a megaphone by Sitwell herself, hidden behind a screen, together with Walton’s jazz-inspired music and rhythms of tango, foxtrot, tarantella and waltz through to the modern sounds of Satie and Stravinsky caused a sensation. Grouped together as ‘Facade’ and increasing in popularity over time, these peculiar musical vignettes are today celebrated for capturing the wit, frivolity and blithe spirit of the 1920’s.
This performance will present William Walton’s definitive collection – ‘Facade: An Entertainment’ published in 1951 together with ‘Facade 2: A Further Entertainment’ compiled for the Aldeburgh Festival in 1979. Three songs of Edith Sitwell’s poetry will also be performed, arranged by Luke Spicer.
Recited by Silvia Colloca (Orfeo et Euridice, SBS Made in Italy with Silvia Colloca) and Simon Lobelson (ROH, ENO, SSO), together with the Sirius Chamber Ensemble conducted by Luke Spicer (Orfeo and Euridice, Spectrum Now Festival), lighting by Colin Alexander, direction by Matthew Barclay and Johanna Puglisi for Operasmith & Co.
The performance is part of the Common Eclectic performance series at Glebe Town Hall, produced by Places and Spaces, in partnership with Operasmith & Co.
‘Facade: An Entertainment’ is a boundlessly imaginative interplay of words and music, join us for a joyful trip through English life in 1920’s, highlighting the nonsensical, the peculiar and quixotic!
Sun 16th August
Glebe Town Hall, 160 St John’s Road, Glebe
Performance at 5.00pm, Doors open at 4.30pm
Tickets can be purchased through Moshtix $30 + booking fee OR $35 at the door
sirius chamber ensemble 