Battles Within and Without is a new piece of music theatre exploring human conflict from the innovative music theatre collective Re:Sound. Featuring vocal music by Claudio Monteverdi and Judith Weir, the production examines the inner turmoil of the heart and the external struggle of the battlefield, combining stunning vocal performance, exciting new staging and film to create a compelling juxtaposition of old and new.
Monteverdi’s Guerrieri et Amorosi journey through scenes depicting different aspects of human passion: the jealousy of a spurned lover; the despair of a woman abandoned; the defiance of those who would repel love's advances; the courage of a warrior, resolved to fight for love against all odds; and the acceptance of the ecstasies and agonies that love can yield. In Judith Weir's Missa del Cid passion goes hand in hand with violence in the story of the Cid of Vivar, a 12th century knight, who embarks on a bloody crusade in the name of his faith. This ancient story’s continuing resonance with the modern world renders the piece a challenging and thought provoking experience for the contemporary audience.
This latest venture from Re:Sound features ten singer-instrumentalists, who sing, act and provide their own musical accompaniment alongside a newly-commissioned film by Manchester based video production company Albino Mosquito. This video features footage and images from the work's premiere at the Royal Northern College of Music in May 2012.
