18th century celebrity Kitty Clive’s story brought to life in music at Lichfield Festival
The fascinating story of 18th century soprano and actress Kitty Clive will be brought to life in a semi-staged concert by the award-winning early music ensemble Apollo’s Cabinet. ‘The Comic Muse: The Theatrical World of Kitty Clive’ is at The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield, on Tuesday 15 July as part of Lichfield Festival. Kitty Clive (1711–1785) was a real celebrity of her time and advocated for women’s rights both in and outside the playhouse, defined her own image and even reimagined herself as the first female comedian.
In 1743, Kitty Clive was engaged by Handel (composer of ‘Messiah’) to lead his oratorio compositions, and from the early 1740s, Clive was the top-paid player at London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She played 184 theatre roles over 22 years, until she was defamed by male colleagues, losing her popularity and being subsequently forgotten by historians.
Apollo’s Cabinet’s album and 11-date UK concert tour sets the record straight, delving into Clive’s life and featuring English theatre music of the time together with arias she would have performed herself.
Apollo’s Cabinet comprises Jonatan Bougt (theorbo, Baroque guitar), Harry Buckoke (viola da gamba), Thomas Pickering (harpsichord, recorder, flute), and Teresa Wrann (recorder). This performance will also feature soprano Lauren Lodge-Campbell.
With a signature mix of acting, dancing, poetry and drama to bring historical performance to modern audiences, the group have won many awards, not least the Royal Overseas League Mixed Ensemble prize, Utrecht Oude Muziek Competition and the Göttingen International Händel Competition. And they’ve performed at the London Handel Festival, Konzerthaus Vienna, Felix! Festival Köln, The Georgian Concert Society Edinburgh (as part of a tour supported by Tunnell Trust), AMUZ Antwerpen, OudeMuziek Fabulous Fringe, :alpenarte Schwarzenberg and the Brighton Early Music Festival.
Apollo’s Cabinet: The Comic Muse is on Tuesday 15 July (7.15pm) at The Hub at St Mary’s. Tickets and details from lichfieldfestival.org or 01543 306271 (call-back service).
