Purcell: The Fairy Queen, 1692

Purcell’s 1692 operatic adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream contains some of the composer’s finest music, from its scenes of bawdy excess to arias of exquisite sweetness. No wonder Purcell had a hand in reviving Shakespeare’s flagging reputation. The Gabrieli Consort and superb soloists let the theatricality of The Fairy Queen speak for itself, teasing out every nuance with a deft touch. There are myriad moments in which to luxuriate, including the arias “See, Even Night Herself Is Here” and “O Let Me Weep”, both beautifully sung by soprano Carolyn Sampson. And there’s Shakespearean fun in abundance, in the sprightly orchestral interludes and ribald song “Now the Maids and the Men Are Making of Hay”.