Restoration England
From the diaries of Pepys and John Evelyn, dramas by Aphra Behn, Vanbrugh and Congreve to the music of Purcell and Blow, and films like Restoration and The Libertine.
Extracts from the diaries of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn, and John Dryden's epic poem 1666, describing events from the reign of Charles II in England like the Fire of London, rows over budgets and battles against the Dutch fleet. On stage, battling husbands and wives were stock characters as theatres re-opened and drew in the crowds.
As Radio 3's series exploring the history of music Key Changes reaches the Restoration Court, Words and Music provides an accompanying selection of readings and music evoking the period, from composers including Purcell and Blow and extracts from film scores set in that era, Restoration, taken from Rose Tremain's novel, and The Libertine - a depiction of the poet courtier The Earl of Rochester.
Producer: Simon Funnell
On radio
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Broadcast
- Sun 14 Jun 202619:45BBC Radio 3
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