15 May 2009
First Tudor evening at the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge
To celebrate the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to
the throne, Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge will be hosting the
first-ever Tudor evening concert next Saturday (23 May) from 7pm to
9.30pm.
The Erato Consort, a group of experienced singers specialising
in unaccompanied music of the 16th and 17th centuries will be
donning Tudor costumes and perform ‘Pastime with Good Company’: a
combination of songs from Henry VIII’s original manuscript and
other repertoire.
Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, originally known as the Great
Standing, was built for Henry VIII in 1543. It was constructed as a
grandstand or platform that allowed guests both to view the hunt
from a high vantage point, participate by shooting their crossbows
from the upper floors and a venue for royal Tudor ‘corporate
hospitality’ to show off the wealth and power of the king.
Katherine Fellowes, musical director at the Erato Consort
said:
- ‘The hunting lodge is a very fitting place to celebrate the
Henry VIII anniversary. We hope that the audience will feel that
they are a part of a journey back to the way of life and music of
the Tudor period. We are sure that it will be a relaxed and
inspiring evening.’
Tickets are available from the Epping Forest Visitor Centre –
Tel 020 8508 0028. Bookings essential.
Ends
Notes to the editors:
Epping Forest: Epping Forest, a major public open space and a site
of international importance for its cultural and wildlife value, is
owned and managed by the City of London. Since the 1870’s it has
had a policy of protecting open spaces for the enjoyment of
Londoners. This policy was subsequently adopted by central and
local government and the Green Belt was born.
See www.eratoconsort.co.uk for details on the
Erato Consort
Press enquiries: Loretta Lui 020 7332 1528