Purcell: Royal Welcome Songs for King Charles II – The Sixteen

September 16, 2020, 9:00 am

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Henry Purcell’s genius abounds in this, the fourth volume in The Sixteen’s series devoted to the composer. Purcell grew from young childhood to established professional adulthood in the service of Charles II. He identified strongly with the court, but he was well aware of Charles’s unreliability as a patron. Wisely, Purcell made an early decision to diversify, flaunting his court connections while building up the largest possible client base beyond the court. This program shows that strategy in action and celebrates a diversity of writing for both professional court musicians as well as amateur enthusiasts.