Purcell had already composed his most famous works, such as "Dido and Aeneas", "King Arthur", "Ode to Saint Cecilia" and many sonatas and instrumental pages.
The Fairy Queen is the fruit of his multiple experiences, a culmination, and will remain the timeless testimony of a unique genius.
It's a dream, a fairy tale, anything goes... Shakespeare inspires, Purcell has fun. The performer shapes, he gives substance and dreams of ideals and beauty.
In 1692, this work was composed by Henry Purcell, a fashionable musician in the English capital. Created for performances in London at the Dorset Garden theatre, owned by the Duke of York, the production was exceptional. This opera was not the prerogative of the powerful, the nobles and the crown, it belonged to all those who wished to be entertained: a single ticket without subscription opened the doors for you. We can still imagine the frenzied masks and hear all the dancing music, which is a testimony to a century full of playfulness. We are witnessing the entertainment of a society that sought to go out and have fun together. Perhaps more popular than elsewhere in Europe, this enthusiasm heralded the advent of a national style and several very ambitious projects such as "The Fairy Queen".
This semi-opera, an exclusively British form somewhat reminiscent of the comedy-ballet in France, is eagerly awaited, the effervescence reigning since large artistic numbers never got to gather at the end of the 17th century in England to realize this vision. An orchestra, a choir, recognized soloists and a vast ballet will now finally meet, collide and seduce.
