The idea for recomposing Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas took root about ten years ago for Raaf Hekkema, but the project only came to fruition after a suggestion to collaborate with Eric Vloeimans.
Performer Biography
Eric Vloeimans, the trumpet player on this album, is regarded as one of Europe's best performers, playing around 100 concerts annually across various genres.
Historical Context
In late seventeenth-century England, the librettist Nahum Tate introduced witches into Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas to appeal to audiences, as Roman gods did not resonate well.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Raaf Hekkema, the recomposer, believes that a traditional basso continuo accompaniment does not fundamentally differ from a jazz rhythm section, which inspired his approach to Dido and Aeneas.
Compositional Technique
Raaf Hekkema's recomposition of Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas sometimes nudges the music towards jazz, as in the Overture and Ritornel, where Baroque idiom combines with a jazz groove.
Performer Biography
Calefax, the ensemble performing on this album, is known for inventing a new genre: the reed quintet, and has been acclaimed for over three decades.
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