Purcell - The Fairy Queen (320kbps .mp3)
Purcell's sparkling Shakespearean masque in a performance conducted by early music specialist Jordi Savall and recorded at the Pau Casals Hall, Barcelona, last summer
Thought to have been written not long before the composer's early death, for the wedding anniversary of William and Mary, the score was lost and not rediscovered until a little over a hundred years ago. In fact the first modern performance was conducted in London by none other than Gustav Holst, with introductions from Ralph Vaughan Williams
The fine young cast includes finalists of the Sixth Academy of the International Ancient Music Centre Foundation and former New Generation Artist Benjamin Appl.
Rachel Redmon, soprano
Ingeborg Dalheim, sopano
Lucía Martín-Cartón, soprano
Alex Potter, countertenor
David Sagastume, countertenor
Malcolm Bennett, tenor
Víctor Sordo, tenor
Benjamin Appl, baritone
Julián Millán, baritone
Le Concert des Nations
La Capella Reial de Catalunya
Jordi Savall, conductor
Synopsis
Act 1
Titania, Queen of the Fairies, has parted from her husband Oberon after a quarrel over an Indian page. Two of her attendant fairies urge her to abandon her palace for the beauties of the countryside (‘Come, let us leave the town’), but Titania prefers her entertainment in human form, ordering them to torment any mortal who dares come near until they confess their faults. Three drunken poets provide perfect victims, only released from attack when one confesses that he is indeed ‘a scurvy poet’.
Act 2
Titania transforms the moonlit forest into a fairy grotto, where she is entertained by the songs and dances of her followers (‘Sing while we trip it upon the green’). The queen commands a lullaby, and Night, Mystery, Secrecy and Sleep step forward to perform it. Oberon, taking advantage of Titania’s sleep, slips into the grotto and squeezes juice from a magic flower onto her eyes.
Act 3
Titania, under the influence of Oberon’s magic, has fallen in love with the ass-headed Bottom. She commands her fairies to dance and sing for his pleasure (‘If love’s a sweet passion’). The shepherd Coridon enters with shepherdess Mopsa. He is determined to steal kisses and more from her, but Mopsa is equally determined to permit no such thing (‘Now the maids and the men are making of hay’). The entertainment ends with a song (‘A thousand, thousand ways we’ll find)’ and a lively Hornpipe.
Act 4
Oberon wakens Titania and Bottom and releases them from his enchantment. He asks his queen for music to celebrate his birthday, and she agrees (‘Now the night’/‘Let the fifes and the clarions’). The fairy masque continues with the appearance of Phoebus from the clouds (‘When a cruel long winter’), and that of the Seasons, who take it in turns to sing their story.
Act 5
Oberon commands a masque to celebrate the marriages of the young Athenians Hermia and Lysander and Helena and Demetrius. First Juno appears to sing a wedding song (‘Thrice happy lovers’), which is followed by a plaint for a departed lover (‘O let me ever, ever weep’). Oberon now conjures up a Chinese Man who sings another song of love (‘Yes, Daphne’), and two Chinese Women who sing of the joys of the earth (‘Hark! now all things’). The masque ends with a lively dance (‘They shall be as happy’).
