Complete Ayres For the Theatre

The Parley of Instruments, Roy Goodman

Purcell:
 The Prophetess; or, The History of Dioclesian, Z627
 King Arthur; or, The British Worthy, Z628
 The Fairy Queen, Z629
 The Indian Queen, Z630
 The Married Beau or The Curious Impertinent - incidental music, Z603
 The Old Batchelor - incidental music, Z607
 Amphitryon or The Two Sosias - incidental music, Z572
 The Double Dealer - incidental music, Z592 
 Distressed Innocence or The Princess of Persia - incidental music, Z577
 The Gordion Knot Untied - incidental music, Z597
 Abdelazer or The Moor's Revenge - incidental music, Z570
 Bonduca or The British Heroine - incidental music, Z574
 The Virtuous Wife or Good Luck At Last - incidental music, Z611 Sonata while the sun rises in The Fairy Queen, Z629/27
 Overture in G minor, Z626/1
 Overture to Sir Anthony Love; or, The Rambling Lady, Z588/1
 Music in Timon of Athens, the Man-Hater, Z632/1
 Symphony in The Indian Queen, Z630/16

"All these works were published within 18 months of Purcell's death. The 13 suites of choice movements from plays and semi-operas, entitled A Collection of Ayres, compos'd for theTheatre, and upon other occasions, may well have been the editing work of Purcell's brother, Daniel.
Whoever it was had a rare combination of musical integrity and commercial flair: the pieces lifted from Purcell's interpolations to plays are often reordered and arranged with a deftness and charm which conveys the spirit of the theatre as well as heightening the loss and poignancy of Purcell's passing. How moving the Rondeau Minuet from The Gordian KnotUnty'd must have seemed to those who knew and loved Purcell.
As a major retrospective of Purcell's life in the theatre, the Ayres for the Theatre mainly comprise instrumental dances from their original sources, though there are several movements readapted from sung airs, such as 'Fairest isle' from King Arthur and 'If love's a sweet passion' from The Fairy Queen. The tunes are wonderful and varied, the inner part-writing skilful and the rhythmic imagination knows no bounds.
Even so, this isn't music where more than a suite at a time can be recommended for ultimate satisfaction: stop while you still want more. And more you'll most certainly want with Roy Goodman's alert and distinctive direction. If a few of the movements sound a touch mundane and lack dynamism as one follows on from another, the positive side is that the performances are never forced and rarely mannered. For the semi-opera 'suites', Goodman employs a full orchestra. What The Parley of Instruments has in abundance is a cordiality of expression which seems so absolutely right, especially in the slower airs."
Gramophone Classical Music Guide - 2010

"The performances by Goodman and the authentic Parley of Instruments are thoroughly alive, stylish and responsive to the composer's ready invention. The recording is in every way pleasing, clear, yet full-bodied."
Penguin Guide - 2011 edition