Purcell's The Fairy Queen (1692), based (very loosely) not on Spenser but on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream , disappeared from the repertory for centuries as the performance traditions surrounding it fell from memory. It was rediscovered in the 20th century and has been kept afloat by its sheer profusion of irresistible Purcell tunes, but how the whole thing is supposed to hang together has remained obscure. The work's genre has the puzzling name of semi-opera, and a recorded performance has no way to capture the ...
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Purcell's The Fairy Queen (1692), based (very loosely) not on Spenser but on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream , disappeared from the repertory for centuries as the performance traditions surrounding it fell from memory. It was rediscovered in the 20th century and has been kept afloat by its sheer profusion of irresistible Purcell tunes, but how the whole thing is supposed to hang together has remained obscure. The work's genre has the puzzling name of semi-opera, and a recorded performance has no way to capture the complex mix of music, spoken word, dance, stage design, costume design, and spectacular machine stage effects. Paul McCreesh, his historical performance group Gabrieli, and McCreesh's co-editor Christopher Suckling come as close as anyone has. They perform from a new edition of the work that includes intelligent choices in completing the sometimes sketchy score, and CD buyers will get a lengthy booklet that will contribute mightily to their understanding of the work. A new...
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