Long renowned for our performances of the music of Henry Purcell, Gabrieli present King Arthur, the composer’s great 17th century patriotic opera, in a new performing edition by Christopher Suckling. Depicting the battles between King Arthur’s Britons and the Saxon invaders, this 1691 setting of John Dryden’s poetry is full of dynamic dance rhythms and lyrical song, including the justly famous Fairest Isle, as well as the ‘frost scene’. Conductor Paul McCreesh leads a virtuosic consort cast in one of Purcell’s most vivid and imaginative scores.

Artists
Paul McCreesh, conductor (UK)
Gabrieli Consort and Players (UK)
Anna Dennis, Mhairi Lawson, Charlotte Shaw, soprano
Hugh Cutting, countertenor
Jeremy Budd, Chris Fitzgerald Lombard, high tenor
Matthew Long, Tom Castle, tenor
Marcus Farnswarth, Ashley Riches, bass