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Our digital season continues with a specially-curated programme celebrating the 500th anniversary of the death of Josquin des Prez, Mille Regretz (A Thousand Sorrows). Josquin is commonly regarded as one of the greatest composer of the Renaissance, yet his work is relatively unknown today. His choral music will be presented in a new piece of choreographed lyric theatre filmed in the atmospheric Stone Nest in London’s West End.

Mille Regretz features the polyphonic chansons that brought Josquin fame across Europe. Among them is the eponymous Mille Regretz, a favourite of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, in which King David laments murdering his son. Also featured is Allégez-Moi, where Josquin’s unique compositional style meets an explicitly sexual text.

The production is directed by Liam Steel, whose adaptation ensures this is a piece of lyric theatre far removed from anything you will find in a chapel setting. Steel has a stellar portfolio of credits in film, theatre and opera, and in 2014 his production of Benjamin Britten's Paul Bunyan was part of an ETO season which was recognized with an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera. Among his many film accolades, Steel's musical staging helped earn Les Misérables (2011) recognition at the BAFTAs and Oscars.

Jonathan Peter Kenny conducts Ella Taylor (soprano), Will Towers (countertenor), Richard Dowling (tenor), Jorge Navarro Colorado (tenor), Stephan Loges (bass) and ETO players. The production is filmed by Tim Van Someren with lighting by David Kidd and costume by Laura Stansfield.