Lachrimae Consort: Celebrating Queen Elizabeth I

Last year The Lachrimae Consort performed their very popular “Celebrating Shakespeare” programme at the 1620’s House. They return again with a new programme celebrating the music and times of Queen Elizabeth I, who was herself an accomplished musician and she employed many outstanding musicians at her court.

The Queen would often go on Royal Progresses around the country in the Summer months, and for this programme we imagine that the Queen has stopped at Donington le Heath for the night, perhaps during the progress from Kenilworth to Chartley in 1575. We will hear dance music and songs that she would have known, together with recollections of some of the nobility present at the court.

The musicians of The Lachrimae Consort are all expert in playing instruments of the time, including treble viol, bass viol, recorder, bandora, cittern and lute. The Queen loved this special combination of instruments and there are three surviving accounts of her hearing them during progresses, and even asking for an encore!

The Consort is again joined by actor Richard Ollier, who will introduce the concert as the gossipmonger John Aubrey and provide entertaining quotations to place the music in context.

The Leicester Mercury said “The six musicians of The Lachrimae Consort play with impressive unanimity and produce a pleasingly mellifluous sound. This Midlands based group invariably offers attractive, entertaining and well-researched programmes”.

Show information;

• Doors open at 7.00 pm – refreshments available
• Show starts at 7.30 pm
• Interval – 8.15 pm to 8.35 pm – refreshments available
• Second half – 8.35 pm to 9.10 pm

Tickets : £8.00 per person – Early pre booking recommended by calling 01455 290429 (Open 7 days a week from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm)