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Hannah French introduces performances of two Purcell operas: the evening opens with possibly Purcell's most famous work, Dido and Aeneas, recorded in the Notre-Dame Basilica at the International Baroque and Romantic Opera Festival, Beaune last year. Mezzo-soprano and recent Radio 3 New Generation Artist Helen Charlston stars as the love-lorn Dido, ending in the heart-stoppingly beautiful lament.

The second part of the evening's broadcast is devoted to Purcell's The Fairy Queen, his semi-opera in five acts, adapted from Shakespeare鈥檚 A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream, recorded last year at the Utrecht Early Music Festival. The Fairy Queen has some of Purcell's finest theatre music, some slapstick elements contrasting with more sublime and magical moments.

Hannah French is joined by Kirsten Gibson to talk about Purcell's glorious music in these two performances by Les Arts Florissants and conductor William Christie.

Dido and Aeneas:
Dido ..... Helen Charlston
Aeneas / Sorceress ..... Renato Dolcini
Belinda ..... Ana Viera Leite
First Witch ..... Maud Gnidzaz
Second Witch / Second Woman ..... Virginie Thomas
Sailor ..... Jacob Lawrence
Spirit ..... Michael Loughlin-Smith
Les Arts Florissants
William Christie, conductor

The Fairy Queen
Paulina Francisco, soprano
Georgia Burashko, mezzo-soprano
Rebecca Leggett, mezzo-soprano
Juliette Mey, mezzo-soprano
Rodrigo Carreto, tenor
Iljia Aksionov, tenor
Hugo Herman-Wilson, baritone
Benjamin Schilperoort, bass-baritone
Les Arts Florissants
William Christie, conductor