5/5. Music for the Theatre
Alongside his official duties at court and for Westminster Abbey, Purcell enjoyed huge success as a freelance composer for the stage. Donald Macleod introduces some of his greatest hits.
Ah! Ah! How Happy Are We (The Indian Queen) Timothy Penrose (countertenor),
James Griffett (tenor), Jaroslav Tuma
(harpsichord), Petr Hejny (viola da gamba) Man Is for the Woman Made
Judith Nelson (soprano),
Christopher Hogwood (harpsichord) Suite: The History of Dioclesian Tafelmusik , conductor Jeanne Lamon The Fairy Queen, Act 2 (excerpt)
Lorna Anderson (soprano), the Sixteen Choir and Orchestra, conductor Harry Christophers Masque of the Four Seasons (The Fairy Queen, Act 4) Lorna Anderson and Gillian Fisher
(soprano), Michael Chance (alto), Ian Partridge , Simon Berridge and Philip Daggett (tenors), Michael George (bass), the Sixteen Choir and Orchestra, conductor Harry Christophers Fairest Isle (King Arthur)
Nancy Argenta (soprano), Nigel North (archlute) Repeated on Thursday at 12 midnight