Purcell: Complete Ayres for the Theatre cover

Purcell: Complete Ayres for the Theatre

Composer
Released

This three-disc set features all of the overtures, suites, and other incidental instrumental music (as well as instrumental versions of arias and songs) written for operas and other theater works by the great English baroque composer Henry Purcell. They include incidental music for such “semi-operas” as King Arthur, Dioclesian, and (of course) The Fairy Queen. Many of the brief pieces are written in dance rhythms, but some of the work is more serious and magisterial. Roy Goodman and the Parley of Instruments perform with all requisite nimbleness and grace.

Rick Anderson

Recommended by

Suggestions
Thrace (Sunday morning Sessions) cover

Thrace (Sunday morning Sessions)

Jean-Guihen Queyras, Bijan Chemirani, Keyvan Chemirani, Sokratis Sinopoulos
Lassus: Inferno cover

Lassus: Inferno

Daniel Reuss, Cappella Amsterdam, Orlande de Lassus
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons cover

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Jeanne Lamon
Palestrina: Missa Aeterna Christi Munera cover

Palestrina: Missa Aeterna Christi Munera

Westminster Cathedral Choir, James O'Donnell
Buxtehude: Trio Sonatas cover

Buxtehude: Trio Sonatas

Boston Museum Trio
Encounter cover

Encounter

Igor Levit
Del Cinque: Sonatas for Three Cellos cover

Del Cinque: Sonatas for Three Cellos

Teodoro Baù, Cristina Vidoni, Ludovico Minasi