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Equal with the Best Abroad

Donald Macleod focuses on the theatre music Purcell wrote under a new regime - of William and Mary.

In the last five years of his life Purcell was to contribute music to around 50 stage productions. The reign of William and Mary brought about a scaling back of court music, so the composer turned to the theatre as a source of income. He became a more public figure in the process, and began to work with playwrights such as John Dryden, chief poet of the Restoration. With Donald Macleod.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Henry Purcell

    Hark, how the songsters (Timon of Athens)

    Performer: Honor Sheppard (soprano) Suzanne Green (soprano), The Deller Consort, Alfred Deller (director)

    • Harmonia Mundi HMA 190214.
    • 4.
  • Henry Purcell

    Circe (Extracts)

    Performer: Giles Tomkins (bass), Peter Mahon (countertenor), Giles Tomkins (bass), Brian Duyn (tenor), Neil Aronoff (bass), Nicole Bower (soprano), Rosalind McArthur (alto), Aradia Ensemble, Kevin Mallon (conductor)

    • Naxos 8.570149.
    • 21 to 26.
  • Henry Purcell

    Henry Purcell - Dioclesian (Act 2)

    Performer: The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock (conductor)

  • Henry Purcell

    Henry Purcell - Songs from Amphitryon

    Performer: Martyn Hill (tenor), Judith Nelson (soprano), The Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood (conductor)

Broadcasts

  • Tue 10 May 2011 12:00
  • Tue 10 May 2011 18:30
  • Tue 21 Feb 2012 12:00
  • Tue 21 Feb 2012 18:30

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