Jacqueline Dark Joins Phoenix Collective Quartet for The Juliet Letters

Phoenix Collective Quartet and mezzo- soprano Jacqueline Dark join forces in the Juliet Letters a song cycle for voice and string quartet written by Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet, with concerts in Sydney Canberra and the Central Coast.

The Juliet Letters features songs which span the full gamut of emotions and styles. Wry, humorous commentaries; requests for romantic advice and poignant outpourings of despair.

“So there was this professor in Verona who answered letters addressed to Juliet [Capulet]…. Well, if that sounds like the start of a tall story I suppose it is… Quite how he came by these letters in the first place remains unclear. We can only make a guess as to their content. After all, these people were writing to an imaginary woman, and a dead imaginary woman at that. Perhaps they were simply scholarly enquiries, or letters of sympathy from others disappointed in love, or even a plea from somebody forced into an unhappy arranged marriage. Whatever was contained in those letters and their replies, the idea of this correspondence provided our initial inspiration.” – Elvis Costello

These are those letters, in song form, sung by acclaimed mezzo-soprano, multiple Helpmann and Green Room award winner, principal artist with Opera Australia and cabaret superstar, Jacqueline Dark, together with the Phoenix Collective Quartet.

Performers: Jacqueline Dark (mezzo-soprano) Dan Russell (director and violin), Pip Thompson (violin), Ella Brinch (viola), Andrew Wilson (cello).

26th November – Canberra 6 & 7:30pm Wesley Music Centre
28th November – Central Coast 2:30 & 4pm Greenway Chapel