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Henry Purcell, King Arthur, Z.628

Ouverture

Act I

I: "Woden, first to thee"

I: "The white horse neigh'd alourd"

I: "The lot is cast, and Tanfan's pleas'd"

I: "Brave souls, to be renown'd in story"

I: "I call you all to Woden's Hall"

I: "Come if you dare"

Act II

II: "Hither, this way, this way bend"

II: "Let not a moonborn elf mislead ye"

II: "Come, follow me"

II: "How blest are shepherds"

II: "Shepherd, shepherd, leave decoying"

II: "Come, shepherds, lead up a lively measure"

II: Air

Act III

III: Prelude

III: "What ho! Thou genius of this isle"

III: Prelude while the Cold Genius rises

III: "What power art thou"

III: "Thou doting fool"

III: "Great love, I know thee now"

III: "No part of my dominion"

III: "Prelude"

III: "See, see, we assemble"

III: "Tis I that have warm'd ye"

III: "Sound a parley"

III: Hornpipe

Act IV

IV: "Two daughters of this aged stream are we"

IV: "How happy the lover"

IV: "For love every creature"

IV: "In vain are our graces"

IV: Air

Act V

V: "Ye blust'ring brethren of the skies"

V: "Symphony"

V: "Round thy coast"

V: "For folded folks, and fruitful plains"

V: "Your hay it is mow'd"

V: "Fairest Isle"

V: "You say ti's Love"

V: Trumpet tune

V: "Saint George"

V: "Our natives not alone appear"

V: "Chaconne"

Lionel Meunier conducts Purcell's King Arthur

St. Augustine Church, Antwerp

Concert
Subscribers

Cast

Simon Robson — Narrator

Vox Luminis

Lionel Meunier — Conductor

Program notes

There's no time like the present to rediscover this dramatick opera by Purcell, uncontested master of English Baroque opera! Dramatick is, indeed, the right word to describe this Restoration-era tour de force: joy and sorrow, flames of love and the icy grip of winter all battle it out in the course of the action, enhanced by Purcell's brilliant textures and vocal and instrumental techniques.

Conductor Lionel Meunier expertly leads the Vox Luminis ensemble against a gorgeous backdrop: the spectacular 17th-century Saint Augustine Church in the heart of Antwerp. British actor Simon Robson plays the narrator with brio and charisma, surrounded by the group's superb vocalists and historical instruments. More than just the Arthurian legends, the whole period of the Saxon invasions comes to life in the work, its history and its myths outlined through the opera's melodies, including the hauntingly beautiful "What Power Art Thou?" from the famous "Frost Scene"...

A closer look: featured composers

Further listening: featured works

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