Cordula Kempe devised every Songs of Apollo programme, choosing the music and the texts and shaping them into an evening. Some programmes were also given in German. The titles below come from the Society’s list and its programme flyer; many of them can be found, with their performers and posters, in the events archive.
The programmes
PERCHANCE TO DREAM
Bach’s Goldberg Variations with Poetry on Sleep and Dream
FOOD OF LOVE
Dvořák’s ‘Cypresses’ with Love Poetry of Four Millennia
ENTIRELY MOZART
His Life – His Love – His Music and a Surprise Shakespearean Connection
VIENNESE DELIGHTS
A Celebration of Schubert’s Life
BIRDS, FLOWERS, GOD AND MYSELF
The Life and Music of Antonín Dvořák
LOVE LETTERS FROM BOHEMIA
A great people’s passion for Music, Poetry, Life and Freedom
DIVERTIMENTO
A light-hearted Summer Garden Entertainment
IL DIVERTIMENTO DEFINITIVO
The Joys and Tribulations of Wolfgang and Konstanze Mozart
STRINGS IN THE AIR
Re-Joyce in the Poet’s own chamber music
MORE STRINGS IN THE AIR
The Final Debate on the Question of Priority between Word and Music
THE FAERIE QUEEN
A Midsummer Night’s Musical Magic
THE QUALITY OF MERCY
Jewish Poetry and Music from Biblical Times to the Present
THE CEREMONY OF INNOCENCE
Christmas afterthoughts for today by Yeats, Auden and others
THE SEVEN LAST WORDS
Haydn’s String Quartets opus 51 with Reflections on the Biblical texts of Four Millennia
A MUSICAL OFFERING
Music and Poetry in Praise of Kingship – Spirit – Love – Music
RUSSIAN MINIATURES
A passionate encounter with great Russian writers and composers
AUTUMN THOUGHTS
Music by Mozart and Brahms with Poetry on Autumn
MIDWINTER DREAMS
Music by Bach, Mozart and Schubert with Poetry on winter
LENT UNRELENTING
Music by Pergolesi and Bach with Literary Reflections on the Passion
COUNTERPOINTS TO LENT
The Story of the Passion seen from different angles, with music from Bach to Shostakovich
PORTRAITS OF COMPOSERS
Purcell, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Dvořák – more to follow
POETRY IS LIFE
Actors reading their favourite poetry on specific subjects changing annually
All programmes, and their titles, are the copyright © of Cordula Kempe.
Many more programmes were given at the Kempe Studio at The Muses between 2014 and 2020: see the events archive.