Restoration England

Available for 29 days

You'll hear extracts from the diaries of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn, and John Dryden's epic poem 1666, describing events from the reign of Charles II in England. On stage, battling husbands and wives were stock characters as theatres re-opened and drew in the crowds. As Radio 3's series exploring the history of music Key Changes reaches the Restoration Court, Words and Music provides an accompanying selection of readings and music evoking the period from Rose Tremain's novel Restoration, Lucy M Boston's The Children of Green Knowe and Edward Bond's play Restoration. Our composers include Purcell and Blow, Michael Nyman’s film score for The Libertine which depicts the life of the poet courtier the Earl of Rochester, from the court of the Sun King in France, and from Vaughan Williams, inspired by Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. There were scientific discoveries both big and small, such as Halley’s Comet, and the use of microscopes by Robert Hooke and we'll hear words and music reflecting one of the great tragedies of the age, the Great Fire of London, and a celebration of women stepping on to the theatrical stage for the first time, including the famous Nell Gwyn. Readers: Nicholas Farrell & Stella Gonet Producer: Simon Funnell Readings: The Diary of Samuel Pepys Tyrannic Love John Dryden Restoration Rose Tremain The Intrigues at Versailles D'Urfrey Pilgrim’s Progress Bunyan Restoration Edward Bond The Children of Green Knowe LM Boston The diary of John Evelyn Robert Hooke The Curious Life of Robert Hooke Lisa Jardine Diary of Samuel Pepys Traditional Ballad By Permission of Heaven: The Story of the Great Fire of London Adrian Tinniswood