"A MARRIAGE OF TWO GENIUSES {WHO NEVER MET}
MADE IN MUSICAL THEATER HEAVEN..."
Jane Austen’s PERSUASION Song Cycle’s nine songs tell the story of Persuasion, Jane Austen’s last completed, least read and most fiercely debated novel. Set within vivid backgrounds of stately homes, sailing ships and rolling British countryside, beautifully dressed (and hatted!) Austen characters sing out their story of prevention, rejection and recovery of lost love, to the driving, sailing, galloping and dancing chamber works of a surprisingly witty and charming Ludwig van Beethoven.
The Programme
PASTICHENYC LLC presentsJane Austen’s PERSUASION Song Cycle
Words by Emily KingMusic by Ludwig Van Beethoven Directed by Emily KingMusical Supervisor: Emily Duncan Video Editor: Tony Torn
A feast for the eyes and ears – and the heart – Jane Austen’s PERSUASION Song Cycle celebrates Jane Austen and her ability to triumph over adversity with irony, love and optimism, insisting on a happy ending in her works, even when real life so often sadly disappoints.
Words by Emily KingMusic by Ludwig Van Beethoven Directed by Emily KingMusical Supervisor: Emily Duncan Video Editor: Tony Torn
A feast for the eyes and ears – and the heart – Jane Austen’s PERSUASION Song Cycle celebrates Jane Austen and her ability to triumph over adversity with irony, love and optimism, insisting on a happy ending in her works, even when real life so often sadly disappoints.
stellar performers
Our fabulously talented and beautifully diverse cast of singers who act and actors who sing.
All meeting the CoVid year challenge of recording solo at home
to create an amazing virtual ensemble!
THE SONGS & SINGERS
All Music by Ludwig van Beethoven
1 PERSUASION 7:38 (Allegro assai – Sonata for piano and violin, Op. 30, No. 3) Maya Bhagwat Bassuk, John D. Haggerty, Gaby Mank, Emily King, Robert Ball 2 THE ELLIOTS 6:44 (Andante con moto – String Quartet in B-Flat, Op. 130) Carey Blackburn, John D. Haggerty, Emily King, Edward Porter, Gaby Mank, Claire Leyden 3 OFF TO LYME 3:58 (Scherzo: Allegro – String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 18, No. 6) Claire Leyden, Carey Blackburn, Robert Ball [Shai Zohar, piano] 4 SICKROOM/RUN 6:26 (Adagio quasi un poco andante; Allegro: String Quartet in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131) Teresa Hui, Sean Gregory and Chorus, Robert Ball 5 WHEN IN BATH 6:44 (Rondo: Allegro – Sonata for Piano & Cello, Op. 5, No.2) Emily King, Maya Bhagwat Bassuk, John D. Haggerty, Gaby Mank, Claire Leyden, Edward Porter, Jacqui Sutton, Sean Gregory
6 SYMPATHETIC DUET 10:45 (Andante Cantabile – Trio for Piano, Cello & Violin, Op. 97 ) Teresa Hui, Maya Bhagwat Bassuk; Shai Zohar, piano solo
7 WOULD AN’ IF I COULD 3:43 (Presto – String Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op.131 ) Teresa Hui, Yannik Encarnação, Robert Ball, Claire Leyden, Sean Gregory, Maya Bhagwat Bassuk
8 LIFE AT SEA 10:42 (Allegro – String Quartet in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1) Maya Bhagwat Bassuk, Emily King, John D. Haggerty, Gaby Mank, Edward Porter, Jacqui Sutton, Yannik Encarnação, Robert Ball
9 FINALE 3:48 (Vivace – String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135) Carey Blackburn & Company
The STORY between The SONGS
The story of Persuasion revolves around Anne Elliott -- the now-faded daughter of Sir Walter, a vain and conceited Baronet in debt -- who was persuaded to give up her romance with a naval officer when she was 19 (Persuasion). Eight years later, Captain Wentworth reappears as Anne’s family rents out their stately home to his sister and her husband, a wealthy retired admiral. (Miss Austen introduces The Elliots). Before Anne joins her family in Bath, she visits her locally married sister, and watches as Capt. Wentworth becomes a great favorite with her young sisters-in-law (Off to Lyme). Much flirtation leads to a general consensus that Capt. Wentworth will propose to young Louisa, whom he encourages to be strong- willed, in comparison with the overly pliant Anne. When the enthusiastic Louisa insists on jumping off a high sea-wall at Lyme, Wentworth misses catching her, and Louisa is knocked unconscious. He does all he can to help her and her family, but when it seems she will recover, he flees. (Sickroom/Run). Luckily, Louisa makes other plans (thanks to Captain Benwick and the Romantic poets.) Anne and her elder neighbor and mentor, Lady Russell, join her family in their new home in Bath. They are met there by the handsome and agreeable Mister Elliott, a distant cousin who is heir to Sir Walter’s estate, and seems particularly interested in Anne (When in Bath). Bath is chiefly seen as a marriage market, but Anne visits a widowed schoolmate who is there to treat her crippling rheumatism, and they share their sorrows (Sympathetic Duet). Mrs. Smith knows enough about Mr. Elliot to warn Anne of his duplicity, but Anne sees that already. When Capt. Wentworth arrives in Bath, he is ready to appeal to Anne again, but Mr. Elliot seems to be her family’s choice, so that Anne would one day become Lady Elliot and return to their family manor. Gossip in Bath sees them as a couple already (Would an’ If I Could). But what if Miss Elliott’s sycophantic companion Mrs. Clay entices Sir Walter into a second marriage, and begets a male heir? Mr. Elliot’s attempts to put a stop to that are his downfall, and Captain Wentworth sees his chance to persuade Anne to share his Life At Sea. He makes his feelings known through a slyly delivered letter, and Anne is his. They are married on shipboard by the Admiral with family complaining and all flags flying.
The Finale celebrates the company, Jane Austen, and her ability to create happy endings in her stories, whereas real life so often sadly disappoints.
THE CAST
(in order of appearance)
Anne Elliot Maya Bhagwat Bassuk Lady Russell Emily King
Sir Walter Elliot John D. Haggerty Elizabeth Elliot Gaby Mank Capt. Wentworth Robert Ball Jane Austen Carey Blackburn Mrs. Clay Claire Leyden Mr. Shepherd Edward Porter Louisa Musgrove Claire LeydenHenrietta Musgrove Carey Blackburn
Mr. Elliot Sean GregoryCapt. Benwick Yannik Encarnação Admiral Croft Edward PorterMrs. Sophy Croft Jacqui Sutton Mrs. Smith Teresa Hui Gossip Yannik Encarnação Gossip Teresa Hui The Company Themselves
THE INSTRUMENTALISTS
Persuasion: Shai Zohar, piano Da Huang, violin The Elliots & Sickroom/Run:Natalia Nerezko, violin Olga Tourkina, violinSabina Torsjan, viola Anastasia Golenishcheva, cello When in Bath: Shai Zohar, piano Sam Chung, cello Sympathetic Duet: Shai Zohar, piano Off to Lyme & Finale: Jonathan Miron, violinKatherine Kyu Hyeon Lim, violinLauren Siess, violaPhilip Sheegog, cello Would an' If I Could & Life at Sea:Adda Kridler, violin Earl Maneein, violin Chern Hwei Fung, violaJennifer Devore, cello Vocal Arrangement & Scoring:Emily Duncan
Video Editor: Tony TornAudio Engineer: Emily DuncanCredits & Magic Lantern Vignettes: Emily KingAssistant Video Editor: Savannah Stoehr Casting: Emily Duncan & Emily King Lyrics & arrangement © Emily King, BMI.All rights reserved, PasticheNYC LLC. With gratitude toward: Meghan, Johnny, Danielle, Michaela, Rodrigo and Collinat The Tank NYCCarol Ann and Roy at The Roy Cockrum FoundationAlice King at The New Circle Theater Company, NYCClifford Lee Johnson III of Fairy Chasm, WIZack, Lee Ann and Bill at homeIqram at EnseThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYCThe National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DCSilhouettes collected by Carol Belanger GraftonAnd the inspiration of Kara Walker.