Karin Fernald, Bruce Purchase, Ruth Gomme and Geoffrey Govier recreate the London musical scene of the l770’s. Characters observed by Dr. Charles Burney's second daughter Fanny include Signora Gabrielli, Italian prima donna; Prince Orloff of Russia and an unmoved Dr. Johnson

"Where Fanny Burney excels is in bringing to vivid life the characters who inhabited those society drawing-rooms; Prince Orloff, who was rumoured to have assassinated the Tsar; the temperamental Italian soprano Signora Agujari, and the masquerade where Fanny dances with her 'Dutchman'. It was as if we had been taken back 200-odd years, in the elegant l8th-century Orangery at Kenwood. The evening was devised by Karin Fernald, who has toured the world with a show on Fanny Burney. Ruth Gomme entertained us with ravishing music from Haydn’s ARIANNA AUF NAXOS, and songs by James Hook and Venanzio Rauzzini. She was accompanied at the fortepiano by Geoffrey Govier, a specialist in l8th-century music. A feast of music and Burneyana."

KATE CHISHOLM UK THEATRE NETWORK