I thought at first that the king was Henry Purcell present at the performance of his work - that would have been a coup! Sarah, you're a stunner with a ditto voice so you will be a fine successor to Emma Kirkby.
I am from near the original Boston and my heart swells that our Bostonian cousins in the New World love the architect of high, English culture as much as l do. Well done, an excellent performance!
Quite agree, the saying the good die young is so often true but we should be grateful for what they wrote and that it had survived for 3 centuries plus.
My favorite Purcell aria sung so beautifully. I love what I've seen and heard of the whole production. I would certainly buy a DVD if it became available.
@@TheYopogo Fascinating. 'Fairest Isle' is sung in Act V of 'King Arthur', a 'semi opera' by Henry Purcell and John Dryden, first performed in 1691. Act V sums the work up in a celebration of Britishness (as conceived in the late seventeenth century), 'Fairest Isle' is preceded by songs celebrating Britain expressing sentiments like 'Retire and let Britannia rise/in triumph o'er the main', 'The shepherd's and the farmer's gains/Fair Britain all the world outlives' 'Tho' Jason's fleece was famed of old/The British wool is growing gold', and is immediately preceded by a drinking song whose chorus runs 'And high for the honour of gold England, Old England/Old England/ and high for the honour of old England'. Having a song celebrating Cyprus at this point would seem a little odd. A possible source of confusion is that Venus (aka Aphrodite), a goddess with close associations with Cyprus in classical mythology, sings tat she will 'forsake her Cyprian Grove', to 'choose her dwelling' in the Fairest Isle, which suggests that the Fairest Isle isn't Cyprus.. So what's your evidence for saying that the 'fairest isle' is Cyprus?
@@TheYopogo It plainly is not. Just read the words. Venus 'forsakes her Cyprian Grove' for Great Britain where she 'chooses her dwelling'. (An excellent choice in my opinion!)
I've heard both versions with a natural G and a sharp G, I prefer this one. Does anybody know why there are two versions? The same goes with greensleeves. I suppose it has to do with the scale used. It gives it a modal flavor
Hello- So, we have not yet edited the whole piece, and there is no plan to do so in the immediate future. I may post more outtakes, and a full version is likely to become available in the future. Please join our mailing list on the website: www.BostonPurcell.org, so you can get our announcements should the DVD become available. Thank you for your interest!
William of Orange and Mary II became King and Queen after the Glorious Revolution when James Stuart stepped down. 1688 The performance represents 1691.
I see that the musicologists at Voices of Music refute that theory at th-cam.com/video/Po6qbbjFJwA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=VSIpBTraS4PIAITp Female vibrato existed before this.
I was in the audience. It was one of those rare magical moments.
We love us some Sarah Yanovitch!!
I thought at first that the king was Henry Purcell present at the performance of his work - that would have been a coup! Sarah, you're a stunner with a ditto voice so you will be a fine successor to Emma Kirkby.
She is totally gorgeous in every way....perfection...what more to say! :-)
This tune works well with the hymn Love divine, all loves excelling
I am from near the original Boston and my heart swells that our Bostonian cousins in the New World love the architect of high, English culture as much as l do. Well done, an excellent performance!
this is my favourite aria. purcell died so young but he left a wonderful legacy for us
Quite agree, the saying the good die young is so often true but we should be grateful for what they wrote and that it had survived for 3 centuries plus.
My favorite Purcell aria sung so beautifully. I love what I've seen and heard of the whole production. I would certainly buy a DVD if it became available.
What a beautiful young lady, what a glorious voice and what a perfect accompaniment from the chitarrone!
BEAUTIFUL GREAT POST WONDERFUL PRODUCTION. j Vincent Edwards
this girl has so much charisma and talent! thanks!
Greetings from The Fairest Isle - this was great, thanks!
Fyi, the "fairest isle" which the song refers to is Cyprus.
@@TheYopogo Fascinating. 'Fairest Isle' is sung in Act V of 'King Arthur', a 'semi opera' by Henry Purcell and John Dryden, first performed in 1691. Act V sums the work up in a celebration of Britishness (as conceived in the late seventeenth century), 'Fairest Isle' is preceded by songs celebrating Britain expressing sentiments like 'Retire and let Britannia rise/in triumph o'er the main', 'The shepherd's and the farmer's gains/Fair Britain all the world outlives' 'Tho' Jason's fleece was famed of old/The British wool is growing gold', and is immediately preceded by a drinking song whose chorus runs 'And high for the honour of gold England, Old England/Old England/ and high for the honour of old England'.
Having a song celebrating Cyprus at this point would seem a little odd. A possible source of confusion is that Venus (aka Aphrodite), a goddess with close associations with Cyprus in classical mythology, sings tat she will 'forsake her Cyprian Grove', to 'choose her dwelling' in the Fairest Isle, which suggests that the Fairest Isle isn't Cyprus..
So what's your evidence for saying that the 'fairest isle' is Cyprus?
@@jimsharpe8032 Well maybe it's me who misunderstood then.
But in any case, the point of the song is to draw a parallel between the two islands.
@@TheYopogo It plainly is not. Just read the words. Venus 'forsakes her Cyprian Grove' for Great Britain where she 'chooses her dwelling'. (An excellent choice in my opinion!)
@@paulwusteman1094 Hence why I *already* admitted that it was me who misunderstood.
Love it!!! All dressed up/ what fun!!!
so beautiful
This is so incredibly beautiful!
Very good Soprano. I also liked the Theorbe support...
Lovely, Sarah! ❤️
Que hermosa interpretación de esta bella pieza de Henry Purcell
Stunning, Sarah!
Wonderful , Gracious
Wonderful, extremely charming!
I've heard both versions with a natural G and a sharp G, I prefer this one. Does anybody know why there are two versions? The same goes with greensleeves. I suppose it has to do with the scale used. It gives it a modal flavor
This performance was on historical instruments, and therefore a half step down. Makes a nice difference, eh?!
I suppose some play on the baroque pitch (415 i believe?) unlike the standard 440hz, which causes this difference.
I like all these Videos of King Arthur very much. Superb performance.
Is there a possibility to see/get the whole piece?
Hello- So, we have not yet edited the whole piece, and there is no plan to do so in the immediate future. I may post more outtakes, and a full version is likely to become available in the future. Please join our mailing list on the website: www.BostonPurcell.org, so you can get our announcements should the DVD become available. Thank you for your interest!
Thank you kindly for your answer. I will look into that.
The time is coming- we will release our entire performance on June 30, 2020. Check back with us! th-cam.com/video/-6QqEScnBOE/w-d-xo.html
@@bostonpurcellsociety4278 What wonderful news. I am looking forwards to that. i'll mark the date. Thank you very much.
1:01
Wonderful performance.
What were William III and Mary II doing there (or was it James II and his queen Mary of Modena ?)
William of Orange and Mary II became King and Queen after the Glorious Revolution when James Stuart stepped down. 1688 The performance represents 1691.
Do the man and woman seated in the back represent William and Mary?
Well spotted!
vidunderlig
Lovely voice. But for this song. the voice it is all wrong. Vibrato came later. It would have been a castrati so a much purer singing style.
Very correct observation.👍
I see that the musicologists at Voices of Music refute that theory at th-cam.com/video/Po6qbbjFJwA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=VSIpBTraS4PIAITp
Female vibrato existed before this.
Her lips are the lips of Venus...