Despite his immersion in the composition of sacred music, Purcell retained a lifelong interest in the theatre—an aspect of his oeuvre that has been neglected. Among the authors of the five works on this recording were two of the most celebrated of the age—John Dryden and William Congreve—and for their ‘semi-operas’ Purcell produced incidental music and songs of vitality, wit, and imaginative text-setting that offer an intriguing look at the world of Restoration drama. Volume 1 is on 8.570149.