Henry Purcell
1659 - 1695
There’s more to English composer Henry Purcell than a washing powder (sorry bad joke) and a trumpet voluntary that was probably written by Jeremiah Clarke anyway.
What about his operas for instance? If you think of opera as going on for days and involving well endowed, vast German leviathans shouting at you loudly (that’s Wagner) then Purcell will surprise you.
His best loved opera is probably Dido and Aeneas which lasts barely an hour and is overflowing with sensitive and exquisitely crafted music.
The Theatre Royal Bath staged a wonderful version a couple of years ago. It has the supreme virtue of having a relatively small cast and can be staged with imagination on a relatively small budget.
Here’s arguably the finest moment, Dido’s lament:
Here’s arguably the finest moment, Dido’s lament… completely agree. The type of music that stops us in our tracks.
The Somerset Opera production of Dido and Aeneas in the Museum was one of the best things I've seen this year, not just the music but the imaginative use of an unusual performance space, and the mosaic