Universal Purcell
Timeless, Purcell's works always touch us deeply. Paul Agnew reveals this mystery and gives us the keys to enter the universe of an extraordinary genius.
Portrait of Henry Purcell (1695)Les Arts Florissants
Birth of a genius
Born during the Restoration period and the resumption of Charles II's authority, Purcell took full advantage of this prosperous period for the arts and for music in particular: the great model was then France and what was played at the court of the Sun King.
Score of Purcell's piece “Lord what is man" (2021) by Les Arts Florissants and Les Arts FlorissantsLes Arts Florissants
Lord, what is man?
Supreme value, the figure of the man occupies all the fields of the knowledge and the culture. The music sublimates the texts that depict the different pictures of the human soul. Everything depends on the interpreter, as Paul Agnew explains.
"Lord, what is Man, Lost Man" by Purcell - Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew, William Christie (2020) by Henry Purcell, Les Arts Florissants, and Paul AgnewLes Arts Florissants
“Lord, what is man” - Henry Purcell
William Christie, organ; Paul Agnew, tenor; Myriam Rignol, viola da gamba; Thomas Dunford, theorbo. Concert filmed in the Thiré Church (Vendée - Pays de la Loire, 2020).
King Arthur (1995) by Les Arts Florissants and Willam ChristieLes Arts Florissants
The Ground
The Ground has crossed the centuries and is still found in our current music: how can a musical formula be both a constraint and a space of freedom that is not only inspiring, but extraordinarily moving?
Orpheus charming the animals. French school, 17th century. (1650)Les Arts Florissants
Orpheus charming the animals. French school, 17th century.
Just as Orpheus was able to charm everything in the underworld, Purcell's music has the same enchanting power. Purcell was a master of the English language and a fine melodist, which explains his elegant and sensitive art.
Henry Purcell, "Now that the Sun Hath Veil’d His Light" - Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew (2020) by Les Arts FlorissantsLes Arts Florissants
Now that the sun (An evening hymn) - Les Arts Florissants
William Christie, conducting and organ; Paul Agnew, tenor; Myriam Rignol, viola da gamba; Thomas Dunford, theorbo. Filmed concert at Thiré’s church (Vendée - Pays de la Loire) and broadcast as part of Dans les Jardins de William Christie, 2020 festival.
Henry Purcell, "Music For a While" - Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (2020) by Les Arts FlorissantsLes Arts Florissants
Henry Purcell, “Music For a While” - Les Arts Florissants
Lea Desandre, mezzo-soprano; Thomas Dunford, theorbo; William Christie, harpsichord.
Dido's lament (2008) by Les Arts Florissants and Willam ChristieLes Arts Florissants
Dido’s lament
H. Purcell, Dido and Aeneas, production Les Arts Florissants, Opéra Comique 2008. Deborah Warner, staging.
Henry Purcell, "Dido & Aeneas" [extract] - Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (2020) by Les Arts FlorissantsLes Arts Florissants
Dido’s lament
Lea Desandre, mezzo-soprano; Théotime Langlois de Swarte, violin; Thomas Dunford, theorbo; William Christie, harpsichord, organ. Filmed at Thiré's church (Vendée - Pays de la Loire), November 2020.
Conception: Paul Agnew, Marie Lobrichon, Fannie Vernaz. Les Arts Florissants receives financial support from the State, the Regional Direction of Cultural Affairs (DRAC), the Département de la Vendée and the Région Pays de la Loire. They have been artists in residence at the Philharmonie de Paris since 2015. The artistic season is sponsored by Aline Foriel-Destezet. The Selz Foundation and American Friends of Les Arts Florissants are Principal Sponsors.
