Latest stories
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Thomas Dunford and Lea Desandre on Songs of Passion
23rd Dec 2025
The lutenist and mezzo discuss their Presto Award-winning album of music by Dowland and Purcell, their own first encounters with both composers as teenagers, and some of the friends and family-members who played a part in the project.
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Purcell's Dido and Aeneas from Maxim Emelyanychev and Il Pomo d'Oro
29th Aug 2025
Nearly a decade after singing Didon and Énée in Berlioz's Les Troyens, Joyce DiDonato and Michael Spyres are reunited as the star-crossed lovers in Purcell's much more economical treatment of the same story, with a luxury supporting cast and colourful, imaginative playing from the Italian period instrument ensemble.
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Sokolov plays Purcell and Mozart
30th Aug 2024
In his new live recital Grigory Sokolov brings his unmatched musicianship and command of the piano to the music of Purcell and Mozart, followed by encores which are far more than celebratory extras. This is music-making to be treasured and another indispensable addition to the catalogue.
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Purcell's Fairy Queen from Paul McCreesh and Gabrieli
10th Apr 2020
A glorious return to the Restoration stage, with a semi-opera if anything even more vivid than King Arthur - featuring a cast of gods, fairies, peasants, poets and... monkeys?
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James Hall on Elegy
11th Dec 2019
The young British countertenor talks to Katherine about his career to date and his recent album of duets by Purcell and Blow with Iestyn Davies and The King's Consort.
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Purcell's King Arthur from Gabrieli and Paul McCreesh
25th Oct 2019
Paul McCreesh and Gabrieli give a sparkling performance of Purcell's patriotic extravaganza, from a new edition prepared by Christopher Suckling.
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Iestyn Davies on Michael Nyman and Henry Purcell
9th Apr 2019
The countertenor talks to David about his new album with Fretwork, playing off the juxtaposition of baroque works by Henry Purcell with works by contemporary composer Michael Nyman.
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Robert King on Purcell's Ten Sonatas in Four Parts
19th Jun 2014
Robert King talks to David about his new disc of Purcell sonatas with The King's Consort.
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Henry Purcell
11th Apr 2014
David explores some of the top performances - old and new - of the wide and varied output of English Baroque master Henry Purcell.
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Dido & Aeneas - DVD Choice
Sarah Connolly (Dido), Lucas Meachem (Aeneas), Lucy Crowe (Belinda), Sara Fulgoni (Sorceress), Anita Watson (Second Woman), Eri Nakamura (First Witch), Pumeza Matshikiza (Second Witch), Iestyn Davies (Spirit), Ji-Min Park (Sailor) Dancers of The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera Extra Chorus & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Christopher Hogwood (conductor) & Wayne McGregor (stage director)
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Alison Balsom: Sound The Trumpet
8th Oct 2012
In her first solo album to be performed exclusively on the natural trumpet, Balsom joins The English Concert and Trevor Pinnock for a programme of music celebrating real or mythic monarchs by Handel and Purcell, including excerpts from The Fairy Queen, King Arthur and Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne.
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Sarah Connolly gets Purcell year off to a flier
2nd Feb 2009
The British mezzo ushers in the 350th anniversary of Purcell’s birth by masterminding a new recording of Dido and Aeneas, on which her assumption of the title-role ranks with the very best on disc.
