Evening Music

A Fragment of Poetry by Sappho

Sapphic Music

Monday, August 20, 2007

Even though only a small amount of her poetry has survived, Sappho's writings have been set to music since antiquity. Tonight we sample three centuries of music inspired by the Muse of Lesbos, from Baroque master John Blow to contemporary mystic John Tavener.

Salonen, Blow, and Tavener

Included on tonight's program is Esa-Pekka Salonen's richly orchestrated "Five Images after Sappho," featuring soprano Dawn Upshaw and the London Sinfonietta. English composer John Tavener departs from his chant-like style with the brazenly modern "Sappho: Lyrical Fragments," and we offer some Sappho, 17th-century style with John Blow's lyrical song, "Sappho to the Goddess of Love."

buy Five Images after Sappho at amazon.com
buy Sappho: Lyrical Fragments at amazon
buy Sappho to the Goddess of Love at amazon