In The Belly of The Beast

Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, Cantates Bibliques: ‘Adam’, ‘Jonah’, ‘Jepthah’

Carolyn Sampson, soprano
Mariana Rodrigues, soprano
Dunedin Consort

A brand-new show featuring three-hundred-year-old music, ‘In the Belly of the Beast’ combines the beauty and intimacy of the baroque cantata, with bold theatrical storytelling. Starring Carolyn Sampson and featuring musicians from leading baroque specialists Dunedin Consort, it retells three powerful myths about how we all survive the unfairness of life.

From Adam in the Garden of Eden, to Jonah at sea, to Jephthah returning from battle, three men make deals with God that don’t turn out well. Together, their stories, and the healing power of music, help us make sense of a world seemingly governed by arbitrary, unreasonable power.

★★★★ The Times

Carolyn Sampson, soprano
Mariana Rodrigues, soprano
Liam Byrne, music director/viola da gamba
Lynda Sayce (Edinburgh), theorbo
Eric Thomas (Perth, Glasgow), theorbo
Alice Earll, violin

Jennifer Fletcher, director
Toria Banks, translator/librettist
Ben Moon, lighting designer & projection artist
Ingrid Hu, scenography & costume design (Jerwood opera designer)
Louis King, production manager
Kylie Skye Sullivan, company stage manager
Chantal Short, costume supervisor
Louise Frame, costume supervisor
Alex Crombie-Rodgers, set construction
Bridget Rennie, producer

‘In the Belly of the Beast’ is a co-production between Dunedin Consort, Hera, and Mahogany Opera.

Acknowledgements
This project is generously supported by Creative Scotland, Arts Council England, Jerwood Foundation, Fidelio Charitable Trust & Garrick Charitable Trust.