Henry Purcell a fost un compozitor englez din perioada barocă, renumit pentru abilitatea sa de a îmbina elemente stilistice italiene și franceze cu tradițiile muzicale britanice. Alături de operele Dido și Enea și The Fairy Queen, acestea se numără printre cele mai importante creații ale sale.
Albumul King Arthur (Z. 628) este o semi-operă barocă ce combină cântul, părți instrumentale și muzica scenică. Această înregistrare sub bagheta lui John Eliot Gardiner cuprinde cele cinci acte ale operei împărțite pe două CD-uri. Partitura este însoțită de părți corale, arii pentru contraalți, tenori și soprane, precum și intermezzouri instrumentale precum Overture și Hornpipe.
Melodii
CD1
1. King Arthur, Z. 628: Overture
2. King Arthur, Z. 628: Air
3. King Arthur, Z. 628: Overture to Act 1
4. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 1: "Woden, first to thee ... To Woden, our defender" (Contralto, Tenor, Baritone, Chorus)
5. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 1: "The lot is cast, and Tanfan pleas'd" (Soprano)
6. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 1: "Brave souls, to be renown'd in story" (Chorus)
7. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 1: "I call you all to Woden's Hall" (Countertenor, Chorus)
8. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 1: "Come if you dare" (Tenor, Chorus)
9. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 2: "Hither, this way, this way bend" (Philidel, Chorus)
10. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 2: "Let not a moonborn elf mislead ye" (Grimbald)
11. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 2: "Hither, this way, this way bend" (Chorus)
12. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 2: "Come, follow me" (Philidel, Sopranos, Spirits, Chorus)
13. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 2: "How blest are shepherds, how happy their lasses" (Shepherd, Chorus)
14. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 2: "Shepherd, leave decoying" (Shepherdesses)
15. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 2: "Come, shepherds, lead up a lively measure" (Chorus)
16. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 2: Air
17. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: "What ho! thou genius of this isle" (Cupid)
18. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: "What power art thou" (Cold Genius)
19. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: "Thou doting fool, forbear, forbear!" (Cupid)
20. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: "Great Love, I know thee now" (Cold Genius)
21. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: "No part of my dominion shall be waste" (Cupid)
22. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: "See, see, we assemble" (Chorus)
23. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: 'Tis I that have warm'd ye ... 'Tis Love that has warm'd us" (Cupid, Chorus)
24. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: "Sound a parley, ye fair, and surrender" (Cupid, Cold Genius, Chorus)
25. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: Hornpipe
CD2
1. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 4: "Two daughters of this aged stream are we" (Sirens)
2. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 4: "How happy the lover ... For love ev'ry creature" (Nymphs, Men, Chorus)
3. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 4: Air
4. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Trumpet tune No. 1
5. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: "Ye blust'ring brethren of the skies" (Aeolus)
6. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Symphony
7. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: "Round thy coast, fair nymph of Britain" (Nereid, Pan, Chorus)
8. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: "For folded flocks, and fruitful plains" (Countertenor, Tenor, Baritone)
9. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: "Your hay it is mow'd" (Comus, Men)
10. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: "Fairest isle" (Venus)
11. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: "You say 'tis Love" (She, He)
12. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Trumpet tune No. 2
13. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: "St George the patron of our isle! ... Our natives not alone appear" (Honour, Chorus)
14. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Chaconne
