Berwick Festival Opera – Metal Baroque

An unashamed celebration of musical emotion, in a blistering programme of contemporary re-orchestrations of a Baroque classics by The Maltings’ Artistic Director Matthew Rooke. There are times throughout history where art truly reaches out and celebrates life to the full. The Baroque period is definitely one – especially the music of Handel and Purcell. More currently, the raw emotion and flamboyance of Rock music is another. Both genres strike a fascinating balance between virtuoso flair, irresistible flamboyance and deeply intimate insights. Metal Baroque brings these two distinct forms of music together in an intoxicating musical marriage – separated by three centuries but united by passion. Combining live singing, church organ and an electric Baroque band of keyboards, synthesiser, timpani, saxophone and electric bass and guitar, the programme includes opera (excerpts from Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Handel’s Ombra ma fui), instrumental music by Handel (including the Largo from Xerxes), a showstopping Bach Toccata and Fugue (transcribed for solo Rock guitar and organ), and culminates in a tumultuous rendition of Handel’s Zadok the Priest. Staged for maximum visual impact with striking lighting effects and projection, Metal Baroque will delight, excite and seduce like a beautiful Baroque pearl – and live long in your mind’s eye.