Prophecy

Framed by Stravinsky’s ‘white ballet’, a tribute to the god of Music and Prophecy, the tragic destinies of Dido, Cassandra and more are brought to life in this dramatic selection of music inspired by Greek mythology, spanning moods as well as centuries as we sweep from heaven-sent arias to heart-breaking laments.

Scottish mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill regularly performs on some of the most prestigious stages across the world, praised for a voice which is at once velvet, luscious and expressive, full of her obvious passion for music and performance. As the joint winner of the 2002 Kathleen Ferrier Award, just a few of her most recent engagements include Berlioz’ La Damnation de Faust(London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle, 2017); Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 and Das Lied von der Erde with DSO Berlin and Robin Ticciati; Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with Daniel Harding and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra; and three performances at the 2017 Edinburgh International Festival.

Stravinsky
Apollon musagète (1927–28) (first part)
Haydn
Arianna a Naxos
Berlioz
‘Ah! Ah! Je vais mourir! … Adieu, fière cité’ (Dido’s aria) from Les Troyens [arr. Iain Farrington]
Purcell
Fantasia No. 7
Purcell
‘Thy hand, Belinda … When I am laid in earth’ (Dido’s Lament) from Dido and Aeneas
Stravinsky
Apollon musagète (concluded)

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Scottish mezzo Karen Cargill brought such exquisite expression and a warm, vibrant and ample voice to the part that she thoroughly outclassed her colleagues onstage. Here, finally, was a singer who could control multiple dimensions, singing with fervent intensity without raising the volume and conjuring up different colors for her character’s pangs of pity, hope and anger.