Spanish dancers and musicians will celebrate Katharine of Aragon with a special performance at Peterborough Cathedral.
An evening of Spanish dance, music, and words from the homeland of Henry VIII’s first queen is to open the 2018 Katharine of Aragon Festival on Thursday January 25.
The performance is at Peterborough Cathedral at 7.30pm and will celebrate the links between the cultures of Spain and England. It will be presented by the musicians Begoña Olavide and Javier Bergia who specialise in authentic historical performance, and by the dancers of Ibérica de Danza. Members of Bedford Young Theatre will also take part in the show.
The first half of the evening will feature the traditional songs of Spanish women from the time of Katharine of Aragon, reflecting the Christian, Muslim and Jewish strands of Spanish heritage. The musical instruments of 16th century Spain will be played. Later in the evening the artists will present, ‘Aragon and Castille, the Lands of Queens’, a performance telling the story of Katharine of Aragon’s life.
Katharine was born just outside Madrid in 1485 to King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castille. She was just 16 years old when she left Spain for England to marry Prince Arthur, the eldest son of Henry VII. Arthur died shortly afterwards leaving Katharine stranded in England. Eventually Henry VII also died and when his second son, Henry VIII, came to the throne, one of the first things he did was to marry Katharine. They were married for 24 years.
Tickets are £18 (£16 concessions) and are available online via the Cathedral website or at Oundle Box Office on 01832 274734 or Peterborough Information Centre on 01733 452336.
The production is supported by the UK Spanish Embassy.
The Katharine of Aragon Festival continues until January 28 with talks, family friendly activities, tours and a commemorative service.
For full details see www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/katharine2018.aspx.
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