Irish Baroque Orchestra

Ireland 1750

Travel back in time to the musick halls of 18th-century Ireland, as Christian Curnyn conducts five works performed in Dublin during the mid-1700s. King Arthur, based on playwright John Dryden's reworking of medieval legend, was one of Purcell's most popular contemporary operas, while the pastoral beauty of Handel's opera Il pastor fido left its first audiences somewhat underwhelmed by its lack of extravagant theatrical effects. Meanwhile, tactical Londoner William Boyce waited until Handel had departed for a fruitful nine-month visit to Dublin before unleashing Solomon on the public. Ladies are requested to attend without skirt-hoops, and gentlemen without swords.