Week 2: Thursday Events

The second week of the festival gets underway at 7pm with 'Icarus' (the second part of its development, following Tête à Tête's staging of a short scene last summer). In this, the first act, we see the master craftsman Daedalus teaching his son Icarus the art of the smith. But Icarus struggles to match the high expectations of his father. By contrast, Talus, Daedalus's nephew, surges ahead in his invention – with devastating consequences. Sung by Katherine Bond, Christopher Diffey and Keel Watson, and CHROMA Ensemble. Then, at 7.45pm, Conor Mitchell's 'Songs for Jean McConville: A Requiem for the Disappeared'. Soprano Rebecca Caine sings a requiem mass in latin for solo soprano, reflecting on the murder of a widow who, in 1972 was dragged from her house in West Belfast in front of her ten children and murdered by the IRA. (Note: this event replaces 'The Headless Soldier' as previously advertised.) Followed, at 7.45pm, by 'Six-Word Operas' featuring singers Natalie Raybould, John Savournin and the Warehouse Ensemble. The composer setting just six words are Nicholas Bootiman, Samuel Bordoli, Owen Bourne, Phillip Cooke, Cimeon Ellerton, Gregory Emfietzis, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Martin Gaughan, Brian Inglis, Matthew Lee Knowles, Christopher Scobie, Philip Venables, Matthew West and James Young. Then, at 9pm, Size Zero Opera presents 'Innocence in the Asylum'. A double bill of chamber opera premieres: Diana Soh's 'The Boy Who Lived Down The Lane' and Blair Foley's 'We're All Mad Here'. Performed by mezzos Katie Walker and Laura Bowler, countertenor Joseph Bolger and baritone Christopher Jacklin. Evening ends at 9pm with 'Orpheus and Euridice'. Ricky Ian Gordon's heartbreaking account of the Orpheus myth is a song cycle in two acts for soprano, with piano and clarinet.