During the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras under the reigns of Elizabeth I and her successor James I, extensive patronage of the arts was undertaken by cultured aristocrats; this was a unique and adventurous age of professional and independently operating theatre companies who catered for the taste of elevated and humble levels of society alike alongside the final blossoming of the Renaissance which was already in the process of fading in continental Europe. This program demonstrates the music of English composers of the era. The countertenor Benno Schachtner is widely regarded as one of the most promising singers in his field. With a special focus on music of the German Baroque period, he is much in demand as a soloist with some of the best ensembles committed to historic performance practice. Conductors such as René Jacobs or Christoph Spering regularly enjoy working with him. For this English program of songs by Dowland, Purcell, Johnson and Blow, Schachtner teams up with a small instrumental ensemble which provides an exquisite instrumental background to the rising star’s fine singing.
