Let Samuel Pepys be your guide to music in Restoration London, with scintillating works by Henry Purcell, John Blow and their contemporaries in a sequence narrated by Clive Myrie and Steven Devine.

The second English civil war and the decade of unstable republican government that followed it was a repressive and miserable time. Families were torn apart, theatres were closed and music was silenced. When the ‘merry’ monarchy was restored with Charles II, those living in London breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the arts to give them the strength and inspiration to rebuild their way of life.

Through this sequence of short and thrilling pieces of music performed by the OAE and Stars of the Enlightenment singers, we draw parallels with our experience of pandemic recovery, and our determination to see the arts flourish once more.

Highlights include the music of Draghi, who, at the request of King Charles, migrated to London from Italy to compose for the newly-opened opera houses and theatres. The concert also features the playful Sing ye Muses by John Blow, who moved to London during the restoration to be the organist of Westminster Abbey, as well as the dreamy duet You Say ‘Tis Love from King Arthur by London native Henry Purcell.

Concert directed by OAE Principal Keyboard Steven Devine and readings from Samuel Pepys’ diary by Clive Myrie.