Henry Purcell
Born: 10th September 1659, London
Died: 21st November 1695, London
Nationality: English
Henry Purcell was an English composer and organist of the middle Baroque era. He composed more than 100 songs, a tragic opera Dido and Aeneas, and wrote incidental music to a version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream called The Fairy Queen.
Purcell's musical style was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Purcell is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers.
Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Purcell
Browse: Purcell
Further Reading: Purcell
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Thomas Dunford and Lea Desandre on Songs of Passion
23rd Dec 2025
The lutenist and mezzo discuss their Presto Award-winning album of music by Dowland and Purcell, their own first encounters with both composers as teenagers, and some of the friends and family-members who played a part in the project.
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Purcell's Dido and Aeneas from Maxim Emelyanychev and Il Pomo d'Oro
29th Aug 2025
Nearly a decade after singing Didon and Énée in Berlioz's Les Troyens, Joyce DiDonato and Michael Spyres are reunited as the star-crossed lovers in Purcell's much more economical treatment of the same story, with a luxury supporting cast and colourful, imaginative playing from the Italian period instrument ensemble.
Popular Genres: Purcell
Popular Works: Purcell
- A New Ground in E minor, Z. T682 (49)
- A New Irish Tune Z646 (27)
- An Evening Hymn 'Now that the sun hath veiled his light', Z193 (94)
- Chacony (37)
- Chacony in G minor - for Two Violins, Viola and Bass Z730 (45)
- Come ye sons of art (Ode for Queen Mary's birthday, 1694), Z 323 (23)
- Dido and Aeneas (56)
- Fairest Isle (from King Arthur) (49)
- Fantasia Upon One Note in F major, Z745 (30)
- From silent shades ('Bess of Bedlam') Z370 (27)
- Ground in C minor, ZD221 (37)
- Hail! Bright Cecilia (Ode for St Cecilia's Day 1692), Z328 (26)
- Hear my prayer, O Lord, Z15 (76)
- I attempt from love's sickness to fly in vain (from The Indian Queen) (33)
- If music be the food of love Z379A (33)
- If music be the food of love, Z379 (52)
- Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei, Z135 (34)
- King Arthur, Z628 (24)
- Lord, what is man?, Z192 (29)
- Music for a while, Z583 (102)
- Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary, 1695 (26)
- My beloved spake, Z28 (27)
- My heart is inditing, Z30 (23)
- Not all my torments can your pity move, Z400 (26)
- O solitude, my sweetest choice, Z406 (56)
- Plainte - O, Let Me Weep (from The Fairy Queen, Z629) (26)
- Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian, Z627 (27)
- Rejoice in the Lord alway ('The Bell Anthem'), Z49 (29)
- Remember not, O Lord, our offences, Z50 (45)
- Rondeau from Abdelazer (43)
- Sonata for Trumpet and Strings in D major, Z850 (36)
- Sound the trumpet (from Come Ye Sons of Art, Z323) (27)
- Suite No. 7 in D minor, Z 668 (27)
- Sweeter than Roses (from Pausanius, the Betrayer of his Country, Z585) (56)
- Tell me, some pitying angel (The Blessed Virgin's Expostulation), Z196 (33)
- The Fairy Queen, Z629 (27)
- Three Parts upon a Ground in D major - Z731 (23)
- Trumpet Tune (34)
- Voluntary in G major, Z720 (26)
- When I am laid in earth (from Dido and Aeneas) (95)
Recent Best Sellers: Purcell
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Special offer. Tutta sola
Rachel Podger (violin)
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Presto Editor's Choice, October 2022
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2022
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2023, Recording of the Year
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2023, Winner - Instrumental
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2023, Winner - Solo Instrumental
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Gramophone Awards, 2023 Finalists, Finalist - Instrumental
SACD: Original price $22.25 Reduced $17.80Download from $6.50 -
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Songs of Passion
Lea Desandre (mezzo), Thomas Dunford (lute, theorbo), with Alex Rosen (bass-baritone), Jess Dandy (contralto), Laurence Kilsby (tenor), Huw Montague Rendall (baritone) Jupiter
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2025, Editor's Choice
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International Classical Music Awards, 2026, Winner - Baroque Vocal
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2025
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The New York Times, Best Classical Music Albums of 2025
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Gramophone Awards, 2026 Shortlist, Song
2 CDs: $17.75Download from $10.00 -
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Special offer. The Mad Lover
Theotime Langlois de Swarte (violin), Thomas Dunford (lute)
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BBC Music Magazine, January 2021, Chamber Choice
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International Classical Music Awards, 2022, Winner - Baroque Instrumental
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2022, Shortlisted - Chamber
CD: Original price $15.00 Reduced $12.00Download from $8.00 -
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Purcell: Dido & Aeneas
Joyce DiDonato (Dido), Michael Spyres (Aeneas), Fatma Said (Belinda), Beth Taylor (Sorceress), Hugh Cutting (Spirit), Laurence Kilsby (Sailor), Alena Dantcheva and Anna Piroli (Witches) Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev
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Presto Recording of the Week, 29th August 2025
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BBC Music Magazine, October 2025, Opera Choice
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Gramophone Magazine, October 2025, Recording of the Month
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International Opera Awards, 2025, Shortlisted - Complete Recording
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International Classical Music Awards, 2026, Nominated - Opera
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2025
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The Times, Best Classical Albums of 2025
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2026, Winner - Opera Recording
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Gramophone Awards, 2026 Shortlist, Opera
CD: $17.75Download from $10.00 -
New Releases: Purcell
View all new releases-
New. Purcell: Tales Of Love And Passion
Marie-Sophie Pollak (soprano), Vox Orchester, Lorenzo Ghirlanda
CD: $19.00Download from $10.00 -
New. Encore Plus 1
Dinara Klinton, Anthony Williams, Robert Thompson, Vanessa Latarche, Nikki Iles, James Kirby, Gary Matthewman, Martin Jones (piano)
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New. The Purcell Manuscript
Àngel Villagrasa
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New. Ménétriers: Dances and Songs of the European Minstrels
Marco Ferrari (soloist), Gabriele Miracle (soloist), Fabio Tricomi (soloist), Diego Resta (soloist), Fabio Resta (soloist), Elisabetta Benfenati (soloist), Davide Fasulo (soloist)
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Future Releases: Purcell
View all future releases-
Coming soon. Je chante la nuit
Agathe Peyrat (soprano, ukelele), Pierre Cussac (accordion, voice)
CD: $20.75Download from $9.25 -
Coming soon. Pilgrimage
Harry Christophers, The Sixteen
Vinyl Record: Original price $28.25 Reduced $26.55 -
Coming soon. London Fog
Dara
CD: $17.50Download from $10.25 -
Coming soon. Historiæ sacræ
Floriane Hasler, Apolline Raï-Westphal (soprano), Mathias Vidal (tenor), Guilhem Worms, Laura Jerrell, Bastien Rimondi, Jordan Mouaissia, Ensemble Il Caravaggio, Camille Delaforge
CD: $20.75Download from $9.25
