Shakespeare’s »A Midsummer Night’s Dream« is a timeless classic – not only in the theatre but also in opera houses and concert halls. One of its earliest musical adaptations is Henry Purcell’s »The Fairy Queen«. The leading English composer of the Baroque transformed the playful tale of spirits, elves and fairies into music of irresistible vitality and splendour, which the Belgian vocal and instrumental ensemble Vox Luminis and its director Lionel Meunier now bring to the atmospheric setting of the Laeiszhalle.
Founded in 2004, Vox Luminis and its director have devoted themselves entirely to Baroque music. Alongside masterpieces from Italy, Germany and England, they have also unearthed many lesser-known treasures. One of the ensemble’s distinctive features is that its many solo roles are performed by members of the choir itself, while the orchestra is expanded according to the requirements of each programme. Their most recent appearance in the »Das Alte Werk« series came in 2022 with works by Heinrich Schütz and his contemporaries. Now they return with one of Purcell’s greatest successes, »The Fairy Queen«.
For many years, however, the score was thought to be lost. It was only rediscovered in the 20th century – whereupon it quickly regained the popularity and acclaim it had enjoyed in Purcell’s own time.
PERFORMERS
Vox Luminis choir and orchestra
Lionel Meunier bass and director
PROGRAM
Henry Purcell
The Fairy Queen
Concert performance in English
