THE LOVES of MARS & VENUS
Music by John Eccles and Gottfried Finger | Libretto by Peter Anthony Motteux
November 20, 2026 at 7pm | Cathedral Church of St. Paul | 138 Tremont Street, Boston
Step into the vibrant world of Restoration London with The Loves of Mars and Venus, a dazzling musical masque first staged in 1696!
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 (see below), and draws on historical sources with the guidance of musicologist Amanda Eubanks Winkler. Our program offers a vivid re-imagining 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!
