Christopher Hogwood was a powerhouse of the early music movement, equally influential as harpsichordist, conductor, musicologist, writer and editor. His recording of Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas is a true classic, featuring exquisite singing. Catherine Bott balances Dido’s grief and nobility, while the golden voice of John Mark Ainsley brings the character of Aeneas powerfully to life in one of the finest recordings of this emotionally stricken role. The casting is deluxe indeed, and includes Catherine Bott as Dido, John Mark Ainsley as Aeneas, Emma Kirkby as Belina and Michael Chance as the Spirit. The Academy of Ancient Music supports the singers with consummate detail and refinement. And it’s a performance that is outstanding not just for its supreme technical excellence, but for its compassion and humanity, too.