Henry Purcell

Considering the quality and extent of Henry Purcell's music, his death on 21 November 1695 at the age of 36 - he was born in 1659, possibly on 10 September, in Westminster, London - casts our minds on the achievements of stupendous talent and the hypothetical quantity and quality of such composers if they had reached the Biblical 'three score and ten'.

A selection of M&V articles about Henry Purcell

CD Spotlight. Chalk and Cheese - The nylon-string guitar of Tony R Clef, heard by Howard Smith. '... extraordinary recorded clarity.'

Ensemble. A Little Bit of Magic - Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. To the Glory of God - Giuseppe Pennisi visits the Sagra Musicale Umbra, celebrating old and new continents

CD Spotlight. Many Riches - The Deller Consort performs Purcell, recommended by George Balcombe. 'Alfred Deller is fantastic ...'

CD Spotlight. Diversely Exhilarating - Cheryl Barker pays tribute to Joan Hammond, heard by Howard Smith. '... four recital items have the ideal accompanist in Timothy Young ...'

Ensemble. A Real Triumph - The first Milan performance of Britten's 'Death in Venice' impresses Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Very Rewarding - The Derwent Singers, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Superb Pianism - A London recital by Julian Jacobson, heard by Robert Anderson

Majesty, Moment and Control - Ben Bloor's concluding recital for Derby Cathedral's 2010 summer organ series impresses Tony Westerman

DVD Spotlight. A Glorious Time - Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen', recommended by Robert Anderson. '... tender expression and all requisite vim.'

Profile. The State of the Art - Maria Nockin talks to soprano Christine Brewer

DVD Spotlight. A Little Wizardry - Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas', recommended by Robert Anderson. '... the playing is stylish and alert throughout.'

Ensemble. A New Path - Music by Oliver Rudland, heard by Robert Anderson

CD Spotlight. A Superb Work - Thomas Arne's 'Artaxerxes', heard by Robert Anderson. 'Roy Goodman and his team give their all ...'

Ensemble. Profoundly Beautiful - William Christie's 'Dido and Aeneas' impresses Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Buoyancy and Lyricism - Derby Cathedral Choir celebrates four composer anniversaries, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Bizarre Perception - Alistair Hinton discusses a recent article on English music by David Hamilton

An Invigorating Performance - Paul Hale provides a fitting end to Derby Cathedral's summer organ series, and Mike Wheeler was there

Highly Effective - Peter Gould helps celebrate the seventieth anniversary of Derby Cathedral's Compton Organ, as noted by Mike Wheeler

A Real Find - Robert Davies made a remarkable impact when he stood in as Papageno late in the run of English Touring Opera's 'The Magic Flute'; Roderic Dunnett profiles him and celebrates the progress of other ETO cast members

Ensemble. A Magisterial Presence - William Christie conducts Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Focused Intensity - Purcell and MacMillan from The Sixteen, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Deceptive Naturalness - Red Priest's 'Nightmare in Venice', entertains Howard Smith. '... irrepressible, chic ...'

Ensemble. Nicely Thought-out - The early music ensemble Concert Royal celebrates the Purcell anniversary, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Dignity Personified - Apollo's Fire performs 'Dido and Aeneas', enjoyed by Kelly Ferjutz

Ensemble. A Near-perfect Occasion - Alice McVeigh braves the snow to listen to Fretwork at London's Wigmore Hall

Ensemble. Infectious Enthusiasm - Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenoble, heard by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Beauty of Line - Andreas Scholl in London, heard by Robert Hugill

CD Spotlight. Sweeter than Roses - Amorous music by Purcell inspires Howard Smith. '... glorious song with inspirational accompaniments.'

Ensemble. Thoughtfulness and Insight - Roderic Dunnett was at Armonico Consort's 'The Marriage of Figaro'

Ensemble. Magical - A Stravinsky and Purcell double bill at Opera North, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Strange Bedfellows - 'Les Noces' and 'Dido and Aeneas' at Opera North in Leeds. Patric Standford was at the first night on 5 May 2007

Ensemble. Lithe and Springy - The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Strong Performances - 'Jephte' and 'Dido' from English Touring Opera, reviewed by Robert Hugill

CD Spotlight. A Belated Flowering - Six-part consorts by John Jenkins, appreciated by Malcolm Tattersall. '... a wonderful group.'

Ensemble. Sparkling Performances - Yvonne Kenny and Iain Burnside at London's Wigmore Hall, reviewed by Robert Hugill

CD Spotlight. Often ravishing - Music by Debussy, Prokofiev, Britten and Ravel, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... admirably encompassed ...'

Ensemble. Imaginative and ambitious - Rex Harley discovers the Crickhowell Festival

CD Spotlight. Varied and intriguing - Contemporary music première recordings for oboe, reviewed by Patric Standford

Mozart matinées - A Salzburg Festival preview, by Tess Crebbin

Venus and Adonis - Robert Hugill muses on the marriage of music and words in the seventeenth century

CD Spotlight. Fertile imagination - Arrangement with a vengeance from Red Priest, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... never a dull moment and entertainment value paramount.'