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Mark Lawson - Suspicion for 10 Voices

4 Extra Debut. Composer Will Byrd is charged with coding papist messages in the music of the Chapel Royal. Stars Simon Russell Beale.

Written by Mark Lawson.

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England was a protestant country standing alone against formidable European and papal enemies. Fear of a Roman Catholic fifth column was rife. But when William Byrd, Elizabeth's favourite composer, is arrested and charged with placing secret papist messages within the music of the Chapel Royal, the court is shocked and panic takes hold among the recusant community.

Byrd's dense polyphony is dissected and decoded and it seems sedition is undeniable. But the composer has a powerful protector - one whom not even Walsingham dare countermand.

Starring Simon Russell Beale as Byrd and Anton Lesser as Walsingham.

Musical Director: Neil Brand
Directed by Eoin O'Callaghan

A Big Fish production for ±«Óãtv Radio 4.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 21 Apr 2017 03:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Writer Mark Lawson
William Byrd Simon Russell Beale
Juliana Byrd Rebecca Saire
Sir Francis Walsingham Anton Lesser
Thomas Philippes Gerard Murphy
Thomas Tallis Jon Glover
Fr. Rodrigues Neil Brand
Richard the boy singer Joseph Hancock
Director Eoin O'Callaghan

Broadcasts

  • Sat 22 Jun 2013 14:30
  • Fri 14 Mar 2014 21:00
  • Thu 20 Apr 2017 10:00
  • Thu 20 Apr 2017 15:00
  • Fri 21 Apr 2017 03:00

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