In 1895, Oscar Wilde, one of the great wits and personalities of the 19th century, was sent to prison for what was deemed the "gross indecency" of his sexuality.
Taking inspiration from the ‘De Profundis’ (‘Out of the deep’) letter which Wilde wrote during his incarceration, Vache Baroque will explore themes of love, isolation, and redemption in an absorbing journey of words and music.
Poetry and prose from the 17th century to the modern day, including extracts from Wilde’s introspective masterpiece, will be interspersed with solo songs by Henry Purcell and two deeply searching ‘De profundis’ psalm settings by Johann Sebastian Bach and Bohemian composer Jan Dismas Zelenka.
For this event, an actor and team of acclaimed musicians will be joined by singers from Vache Baroque’s James Bowman Young Artist programme. There will also be a pre-concert talk from a knowledgeable speaker affiliated with the 2MakeIt charity, which helps rehabilitate prisoners and ex-prisoners through music, art, and writing.