With a libretto by Peter Anthony Motteux and music by two of England’s most celebrated composers, this witty and sensuous work became a sensation of its time, praised by contemporaries for music that “excelled even itself.”

Blending mythological intrigue with theatrical spectacle, the masque tells the story of the passionate and perilous affair between Venus, goddess of love, and Mars, god of war. Their romance unfolds amid a vivid cast of deities, muses, and allegorical figures—Cupid, Jealousy, Vulcan, and more—brought to life through expressive song and richly imaginative staging.

This performance features a stellar cast of artists; Carley DeFranco as Venus, David Thomas Mather as Mars, Kim Leeds as Erato, Jealousy, and Aglaia, Mara Riley as Cupid, and Daniel Fridley as Vulcan. Drawing on historical sources and the guidance of musicologist Amanda Eubanks Winkler, the program offers a vivid reimagining of one of the Restoration stage’s most beloved musical entertainments.

Join the Henry Purcell Society of Boston for an evening of passion, wit, and extraordinary music—where gods collide, desire ignites, and the stage comes alive with the irresistible energy of love and war.