Purcell Cycle

In April, 2009, Toronto Masque Theatre completed its ambitious five-year program to produce all the major music theatre works of Henry Purcell. Purcell's profound contribution to British theatre combined gorgeous music, witty staging, and classic dramatic texts. Under the artistic team of Beckwith, Boyes, and Lacoursière, musicians, actors, and dancers recreated these gems of the masque tradition. In conjunction with the performances of King Arthur, Professor Brian Corman of the University of Toronto convened a symposium on all aspects of the libretto and score of the piece. The Symposium was held at the Jackman Humanities Building at St. George and Bloor on April 24 and 25 and the proceedings of the symposium are scheduled to be published in a special journal edition in the fall of 2010.

Performance schedule:

2005 - The Fairy Queen

2006 - Dioclesian

2007 - Dido and Aeneas

2008 - The Indian Queen, one of Purcell’s last works for the stage.

2009 - King Arthur, to mark the 350th anniversary of Purcell's birth.

Synopses of the masques

Read synopses of the masques in the Purcell Cycle.

Performers

TMT has engaged the talents of emerging and well-established artists in the fields of music, dance, and theatre to great critical acclaim. Our performers and designers enjoy this unique opportunity to collaborate across disciplines in producing masque entertainments. Here’s what some of them have said about performing with TMT:

‘TMT is the new face of fusion in Toronto … people from all walks of life will be moved and entertained. TMT stimulates thought and its ideas stay with you long after you have returned home. Larry Beckwith is a mastermind and will only grow in strength with the passing of time. Toronto needs Larry and the TMT. It's time!’
Benjamin Butterfield, Tenor 

‘Larry encourages strong performances from his players. Perhaps this is due to his occasional reminders that there is more than a stylish rendering of the notes on the page to be accounted for. He invites a good measure of individualism and risk-taking.’
Terry McKenna, Lutenist