Farinelli and the King
by Claire Van Kampen

Name: Farinelli and the King
Brand: Claire Van Kampen
SKU: 9781786822949
Rating: 3.68 (38 reviews)

Farinelli and the King Book Cover — Farinelli and the King Cover

Highlights

—

Large Cast

Female

Male

120 minsBritish Historical

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the character development and unexpected directions in Act Two. Many express a desire to experience the play live, noting that it likely performs better than it reads. Overall, the music and performances are highlighted as strong points.

Strong character developmentUnexpected plot directionsEngaging performancesMay read less impressive than live

Synopsis

Farinelli and the King is a "profoundly funny and haunting mediation on melancholy and the therapeutic powers of music" set in the Royal Spanish court in the 18th century.

Depressed and plagued by insomnia, Kind Philippe V of Spain lies awake in his chamber.

The Queen, desperate to find a cure, hears of Farinelli - a castrato with a voice so divine it has the power to captivate all who hear it.

Philippe is capricious and difficult to please, but even he is astonished when Farinelli sings, and begs him to stay.

But will Farinelli, one of the greatest celebrities of his time, choose a life of solitude over fame and fortune in the opera houses of Europe?

And will his extraordinary talent prove to be a curse rather than a blessing?

Described as "an enchanting, shimmering fairytale for grown-ups"(New York Times), Farinelli and the King starrred Mark Rylance and played to sold-out audiences at Shakespeare's Globe.

It transferred with great success to London's West End and Broadway in 2017.