Hark, Sweet Music: Handel’s ‘Water Music’ and Purcell’s ‘Fairy-Queen’

Hark Sweet Music: Handel’s Water Music and Purcell’s Fairy Queen. 

NZ Barok has three Auckland concerts coming up this May featuring two of the most beloved musical treasures from the Baroque in all their glory on baroque instruments, Handel’s Water Music and Purcell’s Fairy Queen. The orchestra comprises leading baroque specialists from all over New Zealand performing with instruments and playing styles of the time, breathing fresh life and vitality into baroque and classical masterpieces.

There will be a theatrical element to their performance of the music from Purcell’s sparkling Fairy Queen semi-opera. Violinist and NZ Barok’s co-artistic director Miranda Hutton has carefully selected parts of the work to produce what she describes as a spectacular and unique performance including music, singing, and spoken elements. Along with the NZ Barok strings, there will be recorders, trumpets, a bassoon, percussion, narrator Erin Atchison and talented New Zealand soprano Jayne Tankersley will join NZ Barok singing Purcell’s famous “Let me weep” alongside other evocative Purcell arias.

NZ Barok thanks Pub Charity, Four Winds Foundation, The Violin Workshop, Dame Jenny Gibbs and NZ Barok Supporters for their generous support of these concerts.

“… authentic, classy and spirited performances… I certainly look forward to any future opportunities to hear NZ Barok.” – Tony Ryan, RNZ Concert

“NZ Barok are a revelation… the distinctive sound of their authentic instruments in perfect balance.” – Theatre Review