Blaise Le Savetier
Dear British Chess Magazine, I expect I am far too late now to be suggesting this, but I am sure some of your readers would be interested to hear about Bampton Classical Opera’s production of the comic opera Blaise le Savetier (Blaise the Cobbler) by one of the great famous names in chess history, Francois-André Danican Philidor. It is very unusual for Philidor’s music to be performed. This summer we have already given three performances of this delightful work, the musical intricacy of which is clearly explained by his chess-playing intellect: as it is a one-act opera we couple it with L’amant jaloux (The jealous lover) by Philidor’s follower, Grétry. We have one further performance coming up, at St John’s, Smith Square, London SW1 on Tuesday 18 September at 7.00pm: http://www.sjss.org.uk/events/bampton-classical-opera-chroma There is further information on our website: http://www.bamptonopera.org/repertory/philidor_gretry.htm and on our blog: http://bampton2012.blogspot.co.uk/ Bampton Classical Operais a small professional company of national reputation, specialising in rare opera from the later 18th-century. We can supply further information and attractive production photographs.
