FAÇADE — A Musical Entertainment

The William Walton Music Society of Hydra opens its first season with FAÇADE — the poems of Edith Sitwell set to the music of William Walton — on the terrace of the Historical Archives – Museum of Hydra.

The evening begins with songs by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht: Surabaya Johnny, Bilbao Song and Pirate Jenny.

Façade, An Entertainment runs about 40 minutes across 21 short movements, each built on a Sitwell poem recited in rhythm over a six-piece ensemble — flute/piccolo, clarinet/bass clarinet, trumpet, alto saxophone, cello and percussion. Movement titles such as Tango-Pasodoble, Tarantella, Country Dance, Polka and Valse tell you how much of it dances: bright, sparkling music in the optimistic, experimental spirit of the Roaring Twenties.

With Anna Steiger (mezzo-soprano and narrator), Tim Coleman (narrator) and the William Walton Music Society Ensemble — musicians from Athens, England, Germany and the Netherlands — under the musical direction of Julian Reynolds and Frank van den Brink.

A highlight of the evening: twelve visual artists from Hydra have each taken one or two of the 21 Sitwell poems and created an original work in response. During the performance these are projected onto the rock face behind the stage, in step with the recitation — a conversation between poetry, music, image and the island itself.

The terrace seats around 200, and thanks to discreet amplification the sound carries down to the port, so you can catch it from below as well.

• When: Saturday 19 September 2026, 20:30
• Where: Historical Archives – Museum of Hydra (terrace)
• Entry: Free — reserve your place at wwsocietyhydra@gmail.com