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| Calum Finaly’s Fanny in rehearsal at Watermill Theatre (Photograph: Pamela Raith Images) |
When Queen Victoria invited Felix Mendelssohn to carry out for her at a private live performance and play her favorite music, Italien, the composer needed to admit that he hadn’t truly written the music. It was considered one of his sister Fanny Mendelssohn’s items that have been revealed underneath his title. In reality, Fanny can be over 40 earlier than publishing underneath her personal title and she or he did so with the encouragement of her husband however within the face of Felix’s disapproval; when it got here to the concept of Fanny having a musical profession of her personal, Felix remained one thing of a prig.
This story types the marginally shocking germ for a brand new play, Fanny by actor/director/author Calum Finlay which is at The Watermill Theatre, Newbury from 23 Might to fifteen June 2024, directed by Katie-Ann McDonough, with Yshani Perinpanayagam as musical director. Described as a enjoyable and irreverent new comedy that celebrates classical music, the play imagines that ‘Fanny intercepts a letter addressed to ‘F. Mendelssohn’ inviting Felix to play for Queen Victoria. Because the true composer of Italien, she decides to cover the letter, don her brother’s garments, and take his place on the palace…cueing a race throughout Europe and a livid Felix.’
Within the Irish custom of the Noble Name, the custom of calling on company at a celebration to share a music, a poem or to answer the temper of the day, the theatre has invited ladies musicians to participate; ladies musicians of all ranges, backgrounds and kinds are requested to sign-up to play a chunk of music on the finish of the present every night time to proceed the work of all of the unimaginable ladies musicians earlier than them.
Additional details about the Noble Name from Google docs. See the theatre’s web site for details about Fanny.
