Donald Macleod traces Purcell's own journeys through the political highways and byways of his day, including the infamous Rye House plot which culminates in one of the most gruesome executions in British history.

It's 1678 and the King has been alerted to a deadly conspiracy. The whole thing reads like 21st-century terrorist plot: Charles is supposedly to be shot, poisoned and stabbed, while a number of cities around the country are to be fire-bombed. The whole thing turns out to be hoax, but its aftermath sees Purcell involved in celebrations for the King's safe return from seasonal travels.

Old Sir Simon the King
Concerto Caledonia

Ode: Welcome Vicegerent
Tragicomedia
Suzi le Blanc, soprano
Barbara Borden, soprano
Belinda Sykes, contralto
Steve Degardin, counter-tenor
Douglas Nasrawi, tenor
Harvey Brough, tenor
Harry van der Kamp, bass
Simon Grant, bass
Stephen Stubbs and Erin Headley, directors

Jehovah quam multi sunt hostes
Paul Agnew, tenor
Konstantin Wolff, bass
Les Arts Florissants

Voluntary in G Z 720
Robert Woolley, organ

Ode: Fly Bold Rebellion
Michael George, bass
Rogers Covey-Crump, tenor
Rufus Muller, tenor
Gillian Fisher, soprano
Tessa Bonner, soprano
James Bowman, counter-tenor
The King's Consort
Robert King, director

Minuet and Sefauchi's Farewell
The Harp Consort
Andrew Lawrence-King, harp/director

Producer: Michael Surcombe. Show less