Once upon a time, the whole world was… – Musical reflections on scenes and themes from John Milton’s *Paradise Lost* | zamus: early music festival 2026
From 29 May to 29 May Germany / Köln
Brosse Brosse Consort
Irene Klein, B
rian Franklin, Katharina Schlegel, Hermann Hickethier, Heike Johanna Lindner – viola da gamba
Kai Wessel – narration and composition
“The whole world was once … paradise”. In the early English ensemble with five viols, the Brosse Consort explores central themes from John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” in compositions from his own era and earlier decades. Pieces by Anthony Holborne, which deal with hope and grief, reflect the emotional world of the seduced humans after partaking of the forbidden fruit. A canzon theme by John Ward, which begins in the lowest voice, can, in conjunction with the motifs of longing in the upper voices, symbolise the symbiotic love relationship between Adam and Eve. The quotation from Else Lasker-Schüler cited at the beginning is one of the excerpts from her poem “Paradiese” that Kai Wessel chose as the basis for “Erlichtung”, a composition for narrator and viol consort created especially for this programme. The programme concludes with an enchanting musical vision by Holborne: “Paradizo”.
Kai Wessel: “Erlichtung” for viol quintet and narrator ad libitum (2026, world premiere), music for viol consort by Anthony Holborne, Michael East, John Ward, Luca Marenzio and Tomás Luis de Victoria, as well as quotations from John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”
Concert introduction 19:10
Single ticket: €22/€14
Plus booking fees
Tickets available online via zamusfestival.de and zamus.de, by telephone on +49 221 9874 38 21 (Mon, Wed, Fri 10:00–14:00) and in person at the Neumarkt Theatre Box Office (Mon–Sat 10:00–18:30, ticket hotline +49 221 42 07 6000 or via tickets@theaterkasse-neumarkt.de)
Instagram: zamus_koeln
Facebook: zentrumfueraltemusik
YouTube: zamus: centre for early music
www.zamusfestival.de
Irene Klein, B
rian Franklin, Katharina Schlegel, Hermann Hickethier, Heike Johanna Lindner – viola da gamba
Kai Wessel – narration and composition
“The whole world was once … paradise”. In the early English ensemble with five viols, the Brosse Consort explores central themes from John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” in compositions from his own era and earlier decades. Pieces by Anthony Holborne, which deal with hope and grief, reflect the emotional world of the seduced humans after partaking of the forbidden fruit. A canzon theme by John Ward, which begins in the lowest voice, can, in conjunction with the motifs of longing in the upper voices, symbolise the symbiotic love relationship between Adam and Eve. The quotation from Else Lasker-Schüler cited at the beginning is one of the excerpts from her poem “Paradiese” that Kai Wessel chose as the basis for “Erlichtung”, a composition for narrator and viol consort created especially for this programme. The programme concludes with an enchanting musical vision by Holborne: “Paradizo”.
Kai Wessel: “Erlichtung” for viol quintet and narrator ad libitum (2026, world premiere), music for viol consort by Anthony Holborne, Michael East, John Ward, Luca Marenzio and Tomás Luis de Victoria, as well as quotations from John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”
Concert introduction 19:10
Single ticket: €22/€14
Plus booking fees
Tickets available online via zamusfestival.de and zamus.de, by telephone on +49 221 9874 38 21 (Mon, Wed, Fri 10:00–14:00) and in person at the Neumarkt Theatre Box Office (Mon–Sat 10:00–18:30, ticket hotline +49 221 42 07 6000 or via tickets@theaterkasse-neumarkt.de)
Instagram: zamus_koeln
Facebook: zentrumfueraltemusik
YouTube: zamus: centre for early music
www.zamusfestival.de
