The Fairy Queen

Presented in a highly praised new production by Glyndebourne Opera in 2009, this edition of Purcell’s third semi-opera, The Fairy Queen, offers a new and definitive version of words and music prepared by two leading scholars in the field. The playtext, anonymously adapted from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is printed in full, and the role of the various sources, and the relationship of the manuscript theatre score to the printed word-books of 1692 and 1693, are thoroughly reappraised.

The other sources include music manuscripts which have not previously been examined, and which prove to have a significant bearing on the musical text. Full account is taken of the varied instrumental resources and conventions accessible to the Restoration composer, reflected in the multi-purpose performing material for the edition which is available for rental (HL390).