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 BBC Radio 4.
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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 201314:30BBC Radio 4- Fri 14 Mar 201421:00BBC Radio 4
- Thu 20 Apr 201710:00BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Thu 20 Apr 201715:00BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 21 Apr 201703:00BBC Radio 4 Extra
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