Stephan and Nancy Storace: recital of songs

An evening recital of songs by STEPHEN and NANCY STORACE, friends and collaborators of W.A.Mozart. Performed by Carolee Fairbanks and Lucy Morrell, accompanied by short talks.

Stephen and Nancy Storace were a fascinating brother-sister musical duo in 18th century opera circles, who were also good friends and colleagues of W. A. Mozart. This concert will be a performance of rarely-heard works written especially for Nancy – including a recently re-discovered and rarely performed collaborative composition by Antonio Salieri, W. A. Mozart, and Stephen Storace. Throughout the concert, the musical selections will be enhanced by historical insights regarding the relationships of these musicians, including the Storaces’ immense capacity for friendship, Mozart’s obvious admiration for Nancy, and the fierce loyalty which existed between this brother-sister team throughout their lives.

Programme highlights will include:-

Salieri, Mozart and Storace:  Per la ricuperata salute di Ofelia

Stephen Storace:  Two canzonets Unless with my Amanda Blest and The Curfew

Stephen Storace:  Care donne che bramate/How Mistaken is the Lover, an aria written (and subsequently re-written) for Nancy Storace

Carolee Fairbanks holds a BA in Physics Teaching from Brigham Young University. As a vocalist, she studies with Ashley Stafford of London, and currently sings as a choral scholar with the Episcopal Church of St. John the Divine in Urbana, Illinois, USA, as well as singing regularly at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Chicago. Over the past few years, Carolee has enjoyed delving into the archives of the British Library to discover and perform less-sung works of the 18th century English Theatre Music tradition, and in the process has become fascinated with the lives of Stephen and Nancy Storace and W.A. Mozart.

Lucy Morrell is the current Organ Scholar at the Collegiate Church of St Mary’s, Warwick where she plays for services as well as being involved with the training of the probationers and choristers. Prior to moving to Warwick, Lucy was the Organ Scholar at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle where she regularly accompanied and conducted the choir at Evensong as well as being involved with the training of the choristers. During her time at Windsor Lucy has been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play pre-service music for two Royal Weddings as well as other high-profile services including the Garter Day service. Lucy read music at Girton College, Cambridge where she was the organ scholar for three years.

Tickets £10 / £5 conc