Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Henry Purcell's baroque masterpieces with this exquisite collection, released on Archiv Produktion in 2003. This 5CD box set is a treasure trove of Purcell's most renowned works, including the timeless tragedy "Dido and Aeneas," the enchanting semi-opera "King Arthur," the dramatic "Dioclesian," the profound "Timon of Athens," and three captivating odes. Each piece is a testament to Purcell's unparalleled ability to blend intricate vocal and instrumental lines, creating a sound that is both powerful and delicate.
The album opens with "Dido and Aeneas," a heart-wrenching tale of love and loss, featuring the iconic aria "When I am laid in earth." The performance is brought to life by the English Concert, directed by Trevor Pinnock, known for their authentic and vibrant interpretations of baroque music. The ensemble's dynamic range and expressive playing are evident in every note, from the haunting overture to the triumphant dances.
"King Arthur" follows, showcasing Purcell's mastery of the semi-opera genre. This work is a delightful blend of masque and opera, filled with enchanting melodies and dramatic arias. The English Concert's performance is particularly noteworthy for its lively rhythms and crisp articulation, bringing a sense of theater and spectacle to the music.
The collection also includes "Dioclesian," a dramatic work that highlights Purcell's ability to create tension and drama through music. "Timon of Athens" is another standout, with its profound exploration of themes of betrayal and redemption. The three odes included in the collection are equally captivating, each showcasing Purcell's ability to convey a wide range of emotions through music.
With a total runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes, this collection is a comprehensive exploration of Purcell's genius. Whether you're a seasoned classical music enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of baroque music, this album is sure to captivate and inspire. The detailed tracklist and high-quality production make it a valuable addition to any music library.
Dido and Aeneas: OvertureHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626 / Act I: "Shake the Cloud from Off Your Brow" - "Banish Sorrow, Banish Care"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Lynne Dawson, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act I: "Ah! Belinda, I Am Press'd" ... "When Monarchs Unite, How Happy"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Anne Sofie von Otter, Lynne Dawson, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act I: "Whence Could So Much Virtue Spring?" - "Fear No Danger"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Anne Sofie von Otter, Lynne Dawson, Sarah Leonard, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act I: "See, Your Royal Guest Appears" - "Cupid Only Throws the Dart"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Lynne Dawson, Stephen Varcoe, Anne Sofie von Otter, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act I: "If Not for Mine, for Empire's Sake" ... "To the Hills and the Vales"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Stephen Varcoe, Lynne Dawson, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act I: The Triumphing DanceHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Dido and Aeneas / Act II: Prelude for the Witches "Wayward Sisters" ... "Ho, ho, ho"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Nigel Rogers, Elisabeth Priday, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act II: "Ruin'd Ere the Set of Sun" ... "But Ere We This Perform"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Elisabeth Priday, Carol Hall, Nigel Rogers, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act II: "In Our Deep Vaulted Cell"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act II: Echo Dance of FuriesHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Dido and Aeneas / Act II: Ritornelle - "Thanks to These Lonesome Vales"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Lynne Dawson, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act II: "Oft She Visits"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Sarah Leonard
Dido and Aeneas / Act II: "Behold, Upon My Bending Spear" - "Haste, Haste to Town"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Stephen Varcoe, Anne Sofie von Otter, Lynne Dawson, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act II: "Stay, Prince"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Kym Amps, Stephen Varcoe
Dido and Aeneas / Act III: Prelude - "Come Away, Fellow Sailors"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Nigel Rogers, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act III: The Sailors' Dance "See the Flags and Streamers Curling"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Nigel Rogers, Elisabeth Priday, Carol Hall
Dido and Aeneas / Act III: "Our Next Motion" - "Destructions's Our Delight"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Nigel Rogers, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act III: The Witches' DanceHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Dido and Aeneas / Act III: "Your Counsel All is Urg'd in Vain" - "Great Minds Against Themselves Conspire"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Anne Sofie von Otter, Lynne Dawson, Stephen Varcoe, The English Concert Choir
Dido and Aeneas / Act III: "Thy Hand, Belinda...When I Am Laid in Earth"Henry Purcell, Anne Sofie von Otter, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Dido and Aeneas / Act III: "With Drooping Wings"Henry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert Choir
King Arthur, or The British Worthy, Z.628: First Music: ChaconneHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691): Second Music: I. OvertureHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691): II. AirHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 1: "Woden, first to thee" / "We have sacrific'd"Henry Purcell, Gerald Finley, Jamie MacDougall, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 1: "The white horse neigh'd aloud" / "To Woden thanks we render"Henry Purcell, Jamie MacDougall, Gerald Finley, Mark Tucker, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 1: The Lot is cast (soprano)Henry Purcell, Julia Gooding, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 1: Brave soulsHenry Purcell, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 1: I call ye all (Tenor)Henry Purcell, Mark Tucker, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 1: 'Come if you dare' (tenor)Henry Purcell, Jamie MacDougall, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 2: Hither this way (Philidel)Henry Purcell, Linda Perillo, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 2: Let not a Moon-born Elf (Grimbald)Henry Purcell, Gerald Finley, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 2: Hither, this way bendHenry Purcell, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 2: Come follow, follow, follow me (Philidel)Henry Purcell, Linda Perillo, Caroline Ashton, Nigel Short, Simon Davies, Simon Birchall, Rachel Bevan, Carol Hall, Jeremy Birchall, James Oxley, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 2: How blest are Shepherds (Shepherd)Henry Purcell, Jamie MacDougall, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 2: Shepherd, shepherd, leave Decoying (Shepherdesses)Henry Purcell, Linda Perillo, Julia Gooding, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 2: Come, shepherdsHenry Purcell, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 2: Second Act Tune: AirHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 3: PreludeHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 3: What ho (Cupid)Henry Purcell, Nancy Argenta, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, Or The British Worthy, Z.628 / Act 3: What Power Art Thou (Genius)Henry Purcell, Brian Bannatyne-Scott, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 3: Thou Doting Fool (Cupid)Henry Purcell, Nancy Argenta, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 3: Great Love, I know thee nowHenry Purcell, Brian Bannatyne-Scott, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 3: No part of my Dominium (Cupid)Henry Purcell, Nancy Argenta, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 3: PreludeHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act III: See, See, We AssembleHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert Choir
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 3: 'Tis I that have warm'd ye (Cupid)Henry Purcell, Nancy Argenta, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 3: "Sound a parley" / "'Tis Love, 'tis Love, 'tis Love that has warm'd us"Henry Purcell, Nancy Argenta, Brian Bannatyne-Scott, The English Concert Choir, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
King Arthur, or The British Worthy (1691) / Act 3: Third Act Tune: HornpipeHenry Purcell, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Henry Purcell, born in 1659 in Westminster, London, is celebrated as England's greatest composer of the Baroque era. Despite his tragically short life, ending at the age of 36 in 1695, Purcell's prolific output and innovative spirit have left an indelible mark on classical music. Known for his over 100 enchanting songs, the heart-wrenching opera "Dido and Aeneas," and his magical incidental music for "The Fairy Queen," a adaptation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Purcell's compositions continue to captivate audiences worldwide. His profound influence earned him the title "Orpheus Britannicus" and solidified his status as a pioneer of English music from the Restoration period until the early 20th century. Purcell's musical genius transcends time, making his works essential listening for any classical music enthusiast.
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