King Arthur - Purcell’s musical entertainment

An exciting new venture for Godalming Choral Society: directed by George de Voil, the Choir will present the rarely-performed semi-opera King Arthur by Henry Purcell in St John’s Church Farncombe on Saturday 18th April.

Purcell (1659 to 1695) lived in the turbulent times of the Restoration. John Dryden’s libretto deals not with Camelot and the Round Table but with a Celtic -British King Arthur and his battles against the Saxon invaders. This probably had some political reference as both Dryden and Purcell needed royal patronage. Its first performance was in 1691 and it celebrates the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when William III and Mary came to the throne. “Foreign kings adopted here their crowns at home despise” are the words of the final chorus!

It was called a ‘musical entertainment’ or a ‘dramatick opera’ as much of the drama was spoken, with musical commentary and scene-setting. This amazing work contains some of Purcell’s most lyrical music, using adventurous harmonies, and including the famous Frost Scene and the ravishing aria Fairest Isle. King Arthur and the other main protagonists do not sing and we will be performing only the captivating music of this dramatic masterpiece, not the spoken roles. These musical scenes are quite extended, which ensures the work’s continuity even in a performance of the music alone. As performed in 1691 it would have been a fantastic spectacle, combining drama, music, dance and astonishing costume and stage effects in the best Restoration masque tradition. Our performance of the music will help you to imagine that!

The piece, which is in five acts, tells the story of Arthur’s battles to retrieve his betrothed Emmeline, the blind Cornish princess, captured by the Saxon King Oswald of Kent.

Conductor George de Voil comments:

“We invite you to enter the world of Saxons vs Britons in our performance of this dramatic masterpiece. Pick a side… and follow the exploits of kings, magicians and evil spirits through the beautiful verse of John Dryden and the peerless music of Henry Purcell, one of our nation’s most treasured composers. This is a work I fell in love with over twenty years ago performing it as a boy treble, and I am thrilled to bring its vivid musical colours, quirky and intriguing storyline, and larger-than-life characters to life with an orchestra of baroque trumpets, oboes, harpsichord and strings. They will be complemented with a star team of five professional soloists. This is a rare and unusual treat for our lovely Godalming audience, and I hope you will join us!”

George is a fantastic young conductor and organist, his evensong recently heard on BBC Radio3.

Come and be enchanted on Saturday 18th April in the Gothic (but comfortable) setting of Farncombe church!