Purcell - The Fairy Qu... - Gabrieli Consort - Audio CD (Arrives in 50 days)

The second recording of a Purcell opera released by Gabrieli Consort and McCreesh with the full score edited by the conductor himself. Purcell’s The Fairy Queen is based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a play not frequently performed in the late 17th century, nor very well regarded (“the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life” - Samuel Pepys’ diary, 1662). Despite this, the play would go on to work well within an opera, as the characters of Pyramus and Thisbe could conjure up singing and dancing accomplices. Purcell’s masterful composition, Gabrieli’s first-class performance, and McCreesh’s superb interpretation demonstrate why their recordings are seen as some of the best in classical music today.

Tracklist

Disc 1

1. The Fairy Queen Z.629 - Prelude
2. Hornpipe
3. Air
4. Rondeau
5. Overture
6. Come, Let Us Leave the Town
7. Scene of the Drunken Poet
8. Jig
9. Come All Ye Songsters
10. Symphony In Imitation of Birds
11. May the God of Wit Inspire
12. Symphony In Imitation of an Echo
13. Chorus: Now Join Your Warbling Voices
14. Sing While We Trip It
15. See, Even Night Herself is Here
16. I Am Come To Lock All Fast
17. One Charming Night
18. Hush, No More
19. Dance For the Followers of Night
20. Second Act Tune - Air
21. If Love's a Sweet Passion
22. Symphony While the Swans Come Forward
23. Dance For the Fairies
24. Dance For the Green Men
25. Ye Gentle Spirits of the Air
26. Prelude & Dialogue: Now the Maids and the Men Are Making of
27. Dance For the Haymakers
28. When I Have Often Heard Young Maids Complaining
29. A Thousand, Thousand Ways
30. Third Act Tune - Hornpipe

Disc 2

1. Symphony/Prelude/Canzona/Largo/Allegro/Adagio/Allegro
2. Now the Night is Chas'd Away
3. Let the Fifes and the Clarions
4. Symphony For the Entry of Phoebus
5. When a Cruel Long Winter
6. Hail! Great Parent of Us All
7. Thus the Ever Greatful Spring
8. Here's the Summer
9. See My Many Colour'd Fields
10. Next Winter Comes Slowly
11. Hail! Great Parent of Us All (Ii)
12. Fourth Act Tune - Air
13. Interlude - O Let Me Weep
14. Thrice Happy Lovers
15. Entry Dance
16. Symphony
17. Thus the Gloomy World
18. Thus Happy and Free
19. Yes, Daphne
20. Dance For the Monkeys
21. Hark How All Things With One Sound Rejoice
22. Hark the Echoing Air a Triumph Sings
23. Sure the Dull God of Marriage
24. Prelude As Hymen Enters
25. See I Obey / Turn Then Thine Eyes / My Torch, Indeed
26. They Shall Be As Happy As They're Fair
27. Dance For the Chinese Man & Woman - Chaconne

Label: Signum Classics | Origin: Holland

📌 Paul McCreesh