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English Satire and Opera in the 18th Century

Hannah French is joined by conductor and musicologist John Andrews to explore English opera from Purcell to the arrival of Handel. Politics and music go very much hand in hand.

Hannah French is joined by conductor and musicologist Dr John Andrews to explore opera in England from Purcell up to the arrival of Handel. Politics and music go very much hand in hand, it seems...

This period of English music has often been described as a barren landscape, but as John Andrews himself says: ‘The idea that English music was dormant between Purcell and Elgar is as ludicrous as our tendency to forget the brilliance of English literature between Shakespeare and Austen.’

16 hours left to listen

59 minutes

Last on

Sun 10 Aug 2025 17:00

Music Played

  • Henry Purcell

    Come if You Dare [King Arthur]

    Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort. Conductor: Paul McCreesh. Singer: James Way.
    • Signum.
  • John Eccles

    Endless Pleasure [Semele]

    Singer: Rory Carver. Ensemble: Academy of Ancient Music. Ensemble: Cambridge Handel Opera Company. Director: Julian Perkins.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Acis and Galatea (Polyphemus aria) O Ruddier than the cherry

    Ensemble: Early Opera Company. Conductor: Christian Curnyn. Singer: Neal Davies.
    • Chaconne.
  • George Friderich Handel

    Coronation Anthems, 'Let they Hand be Strengthened' (i)

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.
  • John Gay

    Beggars Opera ('When you Censure the Age')

    Ensemble: The Broadside Band. Director: Jeremy Barlow. Singer: Richard Jackson. Singer: Adrian Thompson.
    • Hyperion.
  • John Frederick Lampe

    The Dragon of Wantley Overture

    Ensemble: Brook Street Band. Conductor: John Andrews.
  • John Frederick Lampe

    The Dragon of Wantley ('Insulting Gypsy')

    Ensemble: Brook Street Band. Conductor: John Andrews. Singer: Mary Bevan. Singer: Catherine Carby.
  • Daniel Purcell

    The Judgment of Paris, 'From High Olympus'

    Ensemble: Spiritato!. Conductor: Julian Perkins. Singer: Ashley Riches.
    • RESONUS.
  • Jean‐Baptiste Lully

    Persee - Tragedie In A Prologue And 5 Acts - Overture

    Singer: Mathias Vidal. Singer: Hélène Guilmette. Singer: Katherine Watson. Singer: Tassis Christoyannis. Singer: Jean Teitgen. Singer: Chantal Santon. Singer: Marie Lenormand. Singer: Cyrille Dubois. Singer: Marie Kalinine. Singer: Thomas Dolié. Singer: Zachary Wilder. Ensemble: Le Concert Spirituel. Director: Hervé Niquet.
    • Alpha : 967.
    • Alpha.
    • 1.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 25 Feb 2024 14:00
  • Sun 10 Aug 2025 17:00

Podcast