Composer: Henry Purcell
Performer: Carolyn Sampson, Anna Dennis, Mhairi Lawson, Ashley Riches, Roderick Williams
Orchestra: Gabrieli Consort
Conductor: Paul McCreesh
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Signum
Release: 2020
Size: 4.19 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
The Fairy Queen, Z629 2:
01. Prelude
02. Hornpipe
03. Air
04. Rondeau
05. Overture
ACT 1
06. Prelude & Song – Come, Let Us Leave the Town
07. Scene of the Drunken Poet
08. First Act Tune – Jig
ACT 2
09. Prelude & Song – Come All Ye Songsters
10. Symphony in Imitation of Birds
11. Song – May the God of Wit Inspire
12. Symphony in Imitation of an Echo
13. Chorus – Now Join Your Warbling Voices All
14. Song, Chorus & Dance – Sing While We Trip It
15. Prelude & Song – See, Even Night Herself is Here
16. Song – I Am Come to Lock All Fast
17. Prelude & Song – One Charming Night
18. Song & Chorus – Hush, No More
19. Dance for the Followers of Night
20. Second Act Tune – Air
ACT 3
21. Prelude, Song & Chorus – 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. Song – Ye Gentle Spirits of the Air
26. Prelude & Dialogue – Now the Maids and the Men are Making of Hay
27. Dance for the Haymakers
28. Prelude & Song – When I Have Often Heard Young Maids Complaining
29. Song & Chorus – A Thousand, Thousand Ways
30. Third Act Tune – Hornpipe
ACT 4
31. Symphony – Prelude / Canzona / Largo / Allegro / Adagio / Allegro
32. Song & Chorus – Now the Night is Chas’d Away
33. Song – Let the Fifes and the Clarions
34. Symphony for the Entry of Phoebus
35. Prelude & Song – When a Cruel Long Winter
36. Chorus – Hail! Great Parent of Us All
37. Prelude & Song – Thus the Ever Grateful Spring
38. Prelude & Song – Here’s the Summer
39. Prelude & Song – See My Many Colour’d Fields
40. Song – Next, Winter Comes Slowly
41. Chorus – Hail! Great Parent of Us All
42. Fourth Act Tune – Air
43. Interlude: The Plaint – O Let Me Weep
ACT 5
44. Prelude & Song – Thrice Happy Lovers
45. Entry Dance
46. Symphony
47. Song – Thus the Gloomy World
48. Prelude, Song & Chorus – Thus Happy and Free
49. Song – Yes, Daphne
50. Dance for the Monkeys
51. Song – Hark How All Things with One Sound Rejoice
52. Song & Chorus – Hark the Echoing Air a Triumph Sings
53. Song & Chorus – Sure the Dull God of Marriage / Hymen Appear
54. Prelude as Hymen Enters
55. Song – See, I Obey / Turn Then Thine Eyes / My Torch, Indeed
56. Song & Chorus – They Shall Be As Happy As They’re Fair
57. Dance for Chinese Man & Woman – Chaconne
Described by Samuel Pepys as ‘the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life’, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was at least in part restored to public affection by The Fairy Queen. Here 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.