Purcell: Indian Queen (The)

Featuring

Adrian Peacock
Kym Amps
David van Asch
Anna Markland-Crookes
Robin Doveton
The Scholars Baroque Ensemble

Henry Purcell
Daniel Purcell

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Performer Biography

The Scholars Baroque Ensemble, founded in 1987 by David van Asch, specializes in baroque music, using original or copied instruments and contemporary techniques.

Composition History

The Masque of Hymen, which gives "The Indian Queen" a happy ending, was written by Henry Purcell's brother Daniel Purcell, suggesting it might have been added after Henry's death.

Composer Biography

Henry Purcell, a highly acclaimed composer of his time, died in 1695 at the young age of 35, with "The Indian Queen" being his last major work.

Compositional Technique

Purcell's music for "The Indian Queen" is a 'semi-opera,' meaning it was designed to be performed alongside the play, with instrumental and vocal sections that can also stand alone.

Historical Context

Before Handel, opera did not establish itself in England as it did elsewhere, partly because a clear distinction was kept between acting and singing, and recitative was not appreciated by the public.

Interpretation

The Scholars Baroque Ensemble aims for clarity and vitality by using a minimum number of players and singers per part, often just one, reflecting a common practice in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Composition History

Henry Purcell's "The Indian Queen" was originally a play by John Dryden and Sir Robert Howard, first performed in 1664, and later adapted into an opera with Purcell's music.