The Fairy Queen

Album by Henry Purcell & Jennifer Vyvyan & James Bowman & Peter Pears & John Shirley‐Quirk & English Chamber Orchestra & Benjamin Britten

The Fairy-Queen is a semi-opera by English composer Henry Purcell, first performed in 1692. Combining spoken drama with masque episodes and extensive Baroque vocal and instrumental music characterised by lively dances, choruses and expressive solo arias, it occupies a key place in Purcell's output and in the development of English Baroque theatre music.
First released: 1992

Tracklist

  1. 1.
    The Fairy Queen: Part I. Oberon's Birthday: Symphony
    6:50
  2. 2.
    The Fairy Queen: Part III. The Sweet Passion: Overture
    1:44
  3. 3.
    The Fairy Queen: Part III. The Sweet Passion:
    2:43
  4. 4.
    The Fairy Queen: Part I. Oberon's Birthday: Now the night is chas'd away (Attendant)
    2:41
  5. 5.
    The Fairy Queen: Part I. Oberon's Birthday: Let the fifes and the clarions (Attendants): Dance
    2:07
  6. 6.
    The Fairy Queen: Part III. The Sweet Passion: The Plaint: O let me weep, for ever weep!
    7:51
  7. 7.
    The Fairy Queen: Part III. The Sweet Passion: Now the maids ans the man
    3:42
  8. 8.
    The Fairy Queen: Part I. Oberon's Birthday: When a cruel long winter (Phoebus)
    2:47
  9. 9.
    The Fairy Queen: Part I. Oberon's Birthday: Hail! great parent (Chorus)
    2:17
  10. 10.
    The Fairy Queen: Part III. The Sweet Passion: A Dance of Haymakers
    0:55
  11. 11.
    The Fairy Queen: Part III. The Sweet Passion: A thousand, thousand ways
    3:06
  12. 12.
    The Fairy Queen: Part I. Oberon's Birthday: Thus the ever grateful Spring (Spring)
    2:47
  13. 13.
    The Fairy Queen: Part I. Oberon's Birthday: Here's the Summer, sprightly, gay (Summer)
    1:14
  14. 14.
    The Fairy Queen: Part III. The Sweet Passion: Hornpipe & Rondeau
    2:32
  15. 15.
    The Fairy Queen: Part IV. Epithalamium: Symphony
    1:24
  16. 16.
    The Fairy Queen: Part I. Oberon's Birthday: See, my many-coloured fields (Autumn)
    3:04
  17. 17.
    The Fairy Queen: Part IV. Epithalamium: Hark! hark! the echoing air
    2:29
  18. 18.
    The Fairy Queen: Part I. Oberon's Birthday: Next, Winter comes slowly (Winter)
    2:55
  19. 19.
    The Fairy Queen: Part IV. Epithalamium: Sure the dull God of Marriage
    2:26
  20. 20.
    The Fairy Queen: Part I. Oberon's Birthday: Hail! great parent (Chorus)
    2:23
  21. 21.
    The Fairy Queen: Part II. Night and Silence: Prelude: Come all ye youngsters of the sky (Fairy-Spirit)
    2:31
  22. 22.
    The Fairy Queen: Part IV. Epithalamium: See, I obey
    1:49
  23. 23.
    The Fairy Queen: Part II. Night and Silence: The Songsters: May the God of Wit inspire (Fairy-Spirits)
    1:57
  24. 24.
    The Fairy Queen: Part IV. Epithalamium: Turn then thine eyes
    1:09
  25. 25.
    The Fairy Queen: Part II. Night and Silence: Echo: Now join your warbling voices all (Chorus)
    2:15
  26. 26.
    The Fairy Queen: Part IV. Epithalamium: My torch indeed... They shall be as happy
    2:57
  27. 27.
    The Fairy Queen: Part II. Night and Silence: Fill up the bowl, then (The Poet)
    6:37
  28. 28.
    The Fairy Queen: Part IV. Epithalamium: Chaconne
    3:33
  29. 29.
    The Fairy Queen: Part IV. Epithalamium: They shall be as happy
    0:53
  30. 30.
    The Fairy Queen: Part II. Night and Silence: See, even Night herself is here (Night)
    5:21
  31. 31.
    The Fairy Queen: Part II. Night and Silence: I am come to look all fast (Mystery)
    0:43
  32. 32.
    The Fairy Queen: Part II. Night and Silence: One charming might (Secrecy)
    2:15
  33. 33.
    The Fairy Queen: Part II. Night and Silence: Hush, no more (Sleep)
    4:04
  34. 34.
    The Fairy Queen: Part II. Night and Silence: Dance
    1:29

Credits