Henry Purcell (c. 1659-1695) was an English composer and organist of the middle Baroque era, widely regarded as the greatest native composer England has ever produced. Trained as a chorister at the Chapel Royal and appointed organist of Westminster Abbey at just 20, he wrote across every genre of his age - from church anthems and court odes to theater semi-operas. His chamber opera Dido and Aeneas (1689) remains one of the earliest and most performed English operas, while works such as The Fairy Queen and King Arthur cemented his reputation as a master of the stage. Nicknamed the 'Orpheus Britannicus', he blended Italian, French and older English traditions into a style entirely his own.
Westminster Abbey's St Margaret's Consort will perform a lunchtime concert titled 'Orpheus Britannicus' celebrating Purcell's church music and stage songs as realised by Benjamin Britten.
The Library of Congress published a new dedicated research guide, 'Henry Purcell: A Guide to Resources at the Library of Congress', compiled by early music specialist Dr. Stacey Jocoy.
The RISM international database lists over 3,000 catalogued sources for Purcell's music, with 28 items fully digitized and accessible online.
