Advertisement
THE LODESTONE OF LOVE – THE STORY BEHIND THE MUSICPeople make the decision to renounce some aspect of their lives and reinvent themselves at moments of crisis: their jobs, marriage, reputation… or perhaps to pack up their entire lives and travel across a continent. The Lodestone of Love explores such moments of profound personal transformation through the allegorical image of preparing for a sea journey into an unknown land, sustained by the hope that something better may lie beyond the familiar.
Across its twelve movements, the work traces the emotional stages of coming to terms with such a life-changing decision. These unfold in a series of vivid musical scenes: the bustle of dockside preparations, a multi-layered farewell, a strident sailors' sea shanty, an idyllic English folk song, an intimate love duet, the terror of a sea storm, the stillness of a star-lit ocean, a radiant sunrise and, ultimately, an affirmation that the only way to be beloved is to love others first.
Written for two soloists, large choir and full symphony orchestra, The Lodestone of Love ranges from monumental walls of sound to passages of great intimacy, drawing on a rich palette of orchestral colour to illuminate every stage of the journey.
To provide much of the text for the work, Paul Foster drew on the writings of ordinary English puritans living in the early seventeenth century. Their words express the hope that there must be some way to create a fairer, more equal and more loving society. Although written over four hundred years ago, their hopes, fears and aspirations continue to resonate today, giving voice to themes that remain strikingly relevant.
Whether experienced as a deeply personal reflection or viewed through the wider human experience of change and renewal, The Lodestone of Love speaks to the courage it takes to leave behind one life in search of another.
Originally commissioned for performance in 2020 as part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations, the première had to be postponed due to the Covid pandemic. This rare new large-scale oratorio for choir, full symphony orchestra and two soloists now finally comes to fruition in its long-awaited première by Plymouth-born composer Paul Foster.
Advertisement
Event venue
Plymouth Methodist Central Hall, Plymouth Methodist Central Hall, Eastlake Street,Plymouth, United Kingdom
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.