I like all the pieces written for the theatre, which have been recorded under the name Ayres for the Theatre (I wonder whether this was a designation by the composer himself?) In particular I like the tune used by Britten for Young Person's Guide (from Abdelezar). It has an unsurpassed charm and grace, as well as that grandness that is typically British. It isn't that the German and the French can't match it (Bach Overtures 4 and 5, for instance, and even Handel's Fireworks music, and that really grand overture of Gluck's featured in Tout le Matin. Oh dear; I hope I'm not sounding too defensive) So anyway, I think nothing like Purcell to put me in the grand overture mood. Arch *********************************************** The CLASSICAL mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's HDMail High Deliverability Mailer for reliable, lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html