A collection of songs and instrumental music by Henry Purcell, Thomas Chilcot and Johann Christian Bach representative of theatre music in Restoration England. Charles II was fond of ‘a very merry play’, and comedy became fashionable. The life of the time – brilliant, but corrupt and cynical – provided satire for the theatre. The loose morals shown on stage reflected the world centered in Whitehall, including a motley group of fops, gallants, libertines, coquettes, and courtesans. Men and women came to see themselves mirrored in life, to laugh at their follies, and applaud their frailties. Julianne Baird, soprano Laura Heimes, soprano Tony Boutté, tenor Karen Flint, director & harpsichord Eileen Grycky, flute Elizabeth Field, violin Martin Davids, violin Douglas Mcnames, cello Deborah Fox, theorbo, guitar & archlute