The Songs of Purcell

Posted on February 6, 2013 by admin

As in past years, the Thursday evening concert could prove to be one of the memorable moments of the Pacific Baroque Festival. Audiences will be treated to an enlightening blend of Purcell, a contrast of the popular and the personal.

Nancy Argenta

One of the leading interpreters of Purcell, Nancy Argenta, will brighten this evening with some of Purcell’s most popular Songs. Her recordings of these Songs have received widespread acclaim. “She is vibrant and fleet, intelligent and intuitive, delivering Purcell’s lines and his texts with poignancy, power, and humour when required. This is superlative Purcell singing at every turn…” (critic and scholar Richard Langham-Smith). An opportunity for Festival audiences to hear this Victoria treasure at her best.

Contrasting these Songs, Marc Destrubé and members of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra will perform some of Purcell’s sublime Fantazias – probably the composer’s most personal and profound statements, a pinnacle of polyphonic thought to which only Bach’s Musical Offering and Art of the Fugue may be compared. These remarkable works were written by a young Purcell at the age of twenty-one and were likely for his own personal use as they were never published. Yet they continue to draw many of the world’s leading musicians to them because of their variety and challenge.

Henry Purcell: Fantazia viii (performed by Taverner Consort):

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Read more about Nancy Argenta and the Pacific Baroque Festival in this month’s Focus Magazine:

Music for Kings, Queens and Gods

Posted on January 30, 2013 by admin

“Music for Kings, Queens & Gods”
Saturday 23 February (8pm)

‘the Orpheus Britannicus . . . a greater musical genius England never had’… So Henry Purcell was described by Roger North, James II’s Attorney General.

In this concert the Festival audience will discover again Purcell’s genius. “Music for Kings, Queen’s & Gods” will demonstrate how Henry Purcell created his own magic in blending music with words.

As part of his duties at Westminster Abbey and the Royal Court, Purcell wrote at least 65 full and verse anthems, numerous Service settings and a further 35 other sacred vocal works. The richness of his sacred music will be presented at this concert through four wonderful verse anthems, sung by the award-winning Victoria Children’s Choir and the St Christopher Singers. Get a taste of what will be in store through the link below.

Along with his contributions to the court and the church, Purcell wrote some of the finest 17th century music for the English theatre; this program will include orchestral suites from three of his most famous works for the stage, ‘King Arthur’, ‘The Fairy Queen’ and ‘Dido and Aeneas’, dramatic and richly expressive music.

By the end of this concert, the audience should understand why Holst, Vaughan Williams, Britten, Tippett and Pete Townsend of ‘The Who’ were among Purcell’s 20th-century admirers.

“This music of Purcell is exciting, vivacious, dynamic and invigorating. It is different from other music we have sung at this festival in a few ways. One of these is that Purcell is the first English composer we’ve sung in the time I’ve been involved with the festival. Singing in English is a treat, and an added challenge in some ways. I am very excited for the performance and urge you all to come. It is not a musical experience you will soon forget.” – a Victoria Children’s Choir Chorister

For your listening pleasure: from Purcell’s anthem “Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem”
(The Choir of New College, Oxford)

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Thank You – and Mark Your Calendar for 2013

Posted on March 9, 2012 by admin

One month ago Victoria audiences began their discovery of the wonderful music of baroque France. On this anniversary, we would like to thank all of you for your overwhelming expressions of appreciation and for your support of Pacific Baroque Festival 2012 “Music for the Sun King”.

Purcell

As a thank-you, and fittingly in recognition of yesterday’s International Women’s Day, we thought you might like these videos from “Choral Evensong: musique pour les dames religieuses”, featuring motets by Henry Du Mont. As you will see in the performances of these young musicians, Victoria continues to produce remarkable young artists, and thanks to your support the Festival provides a unique experience for them.

Mark your 2013 calendars: on February 21-24 Pacific Baroque Festival ventures to England where it will explore the music of Henry Purcell and his contemporaries.

Videos

Henry Du Momt “Litanaie Beatae Maria Virginis”