Purcell The Fairy Queen 1692

Description

Henry Purcell (1659-1695): The Fairy Queen, semi-opera based on the adaptation of the libretto from the famous play by William Shakespeare, "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Purcell's The Fairy Queen is based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, a play that was rarely performed at the end of the 17th century and not very well received ("the most ridiculous and insipid play I have ever seen in my life" - Samuel Pepys' Diary, 1662). Despite this, the play continued to work well in an opera, as the characters of Pyramus and Thisbe could evoke the interplay between song and dance. Purcell's masterful performance in composition and McCreesh's superb interpretation demonstrate why their recordings are considered among the best of classical music today.