Purcell - The Fairy Queen, 1692

Purcell's The Fairy Queen is based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, a play not frequently performed in the late 17th century, nor very well regarded ("the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life" - Samuel Pepys' diary, 1662). Despite this, the play would go on to work well within an opera, as the characters of Pyramus and Thisbe could conjure up singing and dancing accomplices. Purcell's masterful composition, Gabrieli's first-class performance, and McCreesh's superb interpretation demonstrate why their recordings are seen as some of the best in classical music today.