The Tempest: Vache Baroque collaborates with Out of Chaos theatre company to present a 17th century semi-opera remade

Pergolesi’s L’Olimpiade at Vache Baroque in 2024 (Photo: Michael Wheatley) – [see my review]

The 17th-century English tradition of the dramatick opera (often called semi-opera nowadays) remains a fascinating challenge for modern performers with much fine music attached to long and seemingly unworthy texts. Semi-operas ran in London from roughly 1673 to 1712, in other words from the Restoration to the establishment of regular Italian opera. Though the best known name attached to the genre is Henry Purcell, music could often be provided by a selection of composers. 

For more on semi-opera see my article The Invention of English Opera: the surprising history of opera in 17th century England – from masques to dramatic-opera 

In 1674, there was The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island with a libretto by Thomas Shadwell (who became Poet Laureate in 1689) based on John Dryden and William Davenant’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest (this was a period when few Shakespeare plays were performed unaltered). The music by was provided by Matthew Locke, Giovanni Battista Draghi and Pelham Humfrey, a fine trio of composers. 

Towards the end of semi-opera in London (the large-scale ones were getting too expensive), The Tempest was revived again. This time in 1712, still with Shadwell’s text but with new music that was long attributed to Henry Purcell but may be by John Weldon. In 1701 Weldon took part in, and won, the competition to set Congreve’s libretto The Judgement of Paris to music and his music for this was recorded for the first time in 2025 by Julian Perkins and the Academy of Ancient Music [see my review].

Now for its Summer 2026 festival, Vache Baroque is joining forces with the theatre company Out of Chaos (artistic director Paul O’Mahoney) to present The Tempest, a semi-opera inspired by Shakespeare’s play and featuring music by Henry Purcell, Matthew Locke, Pelham Humfrey, and others including a full Purcell masque, along with pieces by other European composers of the period, shanties, and improvisations. The Vache’s landscape setting with its lake and trees makes it an ideal venue for the venture. The Tempest will be directed by Paul O’Mahony (of Out of Chaos), choreographed by Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster and designed by Caitlin Mawhinney. Jonathan Darbourne will direct the Vache Baroque Band with a cast of singers including Stephanie Hershaw, Isabelle Peters, Camilla Seale, Conor Prendiville and Ross Cumming alongside actors from Out of Chaos.

Still on-theme, Water Music will feature a concert of water-themed works (but not Handel’s famous one) featuring Sophia Prodanova (violin) and Isabelle Peters (soprano) plus sound recordist Chris Watson with music by Purcell, Handel, Vivaldi and Maria Martines (her cantata La Tempesta from 1778). Jonathan Darbourne directs the Vache Baroque Band and Singers.

Full details from the Vache Baroque website.