Pinchgut Opera presents Coffee and a Dead Canary

A captivating selection of cantatas – in essence, tiny operas – by Bach and Telemann, revealing the theatrical spark of the two Baroque masters.

Bach’s Coffee Cantata is a witty musical snapshot of 18th-century life, in a playful tug-of-war between a coffee-loving daughter and her disapproving father. In contrast, Telemann’s Canary Cantata offers a heartfelt tribute following the death of a beloved pet.

Director Warwick Doddrell makes his Pinchgut debut to help us animate these cantatas that celebrate the character, colour and emotional nuance of the everyday, reminding us that short stories carry surprising depth. Vibrant, inventive, and utterly human, this is distilled and delightful tiny opera at its best.

This continuation of our Bach and Telemann series reveals their more playful, human side, in music brimming with colour and character.