Henry Purcell - Overture to The Fairy Queen

On this day, the Queen Of The World was born.  People were so happy that they celebrated with fireworks the following day.*

And so we need music worthy of this Royal day. Henry Purcell adapted Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream into a demi-opera.  This piece is disturbingly appropriate to this day: today is the mid point of the year; the music is about a Queen; the Queen was going to marry a donkey (ahem!).

And so if you were to hoist a toast to the Queen (or even launch some fireworks), she will smile her royal smile in thanks.



* This is the origin of the moniker "Queen Of The World".  She told this to her kids when they were growing up.