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Bridget Cunningham is the real sound behind Elizabeth
I |
Hitting the notes for Virgin Queen
By JANE WILD
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ANYONE who has seen the BBC’s lavish costume drama the
Virgin Queen might have been struck by the enchanting music
heard throughout the series.
Whenever actress Anne-Marie Duff, who portrays Elizabeth
I, is seen playing the harpsichord, the sound is actually that
of Irish musician Bridget Cunningham.
Bridget, 30, of Tufnell Park, explained how she came to be involved
in the series.
She said: “I had played for a number of BBC radio programmes
and they phoned me and asked if I was interested in playing
for the Virgin Queen.
“The music was wonderful, I loved it. Having the chance
to play it was fantastic.”
The haunting melodies were especially composed for the production
by Martin Phipps.
The sought-after musician and fellow of the Royal College of
Music also plays the organ, violin and piano.
She has won many prizes for her harpsichord, playing and performs
in period costume with her ensembles at the Handel House Museum,
Hampton Court and the National Gallery. Surrounded by stacks
of music books in her living room, she demonstrates the harpsichord’s
crisp and layered sound with a flourish of chords.
She points out that far from being an instrument confined to
baro-que, the harpsichord has a versatile nature and a rhythmic
quality that lends itself very well to jazz.
This summer she hopes to present concerts in Islington and is
seeking poets, artists, actors and writers to be part of a collaboration.
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