Discovering Music - The Play of Daniel

Stephen Johnson is joined by Andrew Lawrence King and members of the Harp Consort to explore the music and ideas in the medieval Play of Daniel, one of the earliest pieces of musical theatre. A 13th-century 'opera' about the prophet Daniel, first executed by young clerics at Beauvais Cathedral, it was performed in the New Year as part of the Feast of Fools and combines burlesque with the mysteries of the Daniel story. With a complete staged performance of the work, recorded at York Minster as part of the 2008 York Early Music Festival.