Harriet Mackenzie

‘From sunrise to starlight’ – a programme linked to the new exhibition ‘Edwin Austin Abbey: By the Dawn’s Early Light’ at the National Gallery London.

The concert is structured as a musical reflection on the cycle of the day, from the first light of dawn through to nightfall and the timeless sky beyond.

Harriet Mackenzie and Hue Watkins will perform works for violin and piano. The programme draws on English and American composers, resonating with Abbey’s strong ties to both Gloucestershire and Philadelphia, and evokes the pastoral, mythological and celestial themes often found in his paintings, as well as his connection with Shakespeare.

Abbey’s admiration for Shakespeare’s work shaped a significant part of his artistic career, and he became one of the most prominent illustrators of Shakespearean scenes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This programme also draws inspiration from Titian’s paintings and explores themes featured in Room 8, where the concert is being held.

The programme has been curated by Harriet Mackenzie in collaboration with Music in Action a Jersey charity that uses the power of music to inspire, create and educate.