PURCELL’s most beautiful "They Tell Us that You Mighty Powers Above" in a medieval castle

Henry Purcell's (1659-1695) masterful setting of ‘They Tell Us That You
Mighty Powers Above’

is from The Indian Queen - an unfinished semi-opera by Purcell - but the emotions behind the words by John Dryden and Sir Robert Howard are so universal that knowledge of the larger work is not mandatory: the pain and joy of love. It's fascinating to realize that the massive stone walls of the 15th century manor house or small castle of Qvidja, where we shot the video, were already several hundred years old when Purcell lived out his short life, the brief candle of his divine genius flickering out at 35, but his music reverberating to us through the centuries, shining perhaps brighter than ever.

Performed by Ophelia: Sanna Kola, mezzo-soprano
, with Tuomas Kourula, theorbo.

Scenario & narrative by Ophelia.

Performed in Qvidja Gård on October 9th 2021.

Ophelia would like to thank Saara Kankaan­rinta,
Ilkka Herlin and Pekka Heik­kinen for co-operation.