From the courtly spectacles of the Renaissance through to the first opera productions on the early stages of Europe, ballet and opera have been inextricably linked. Drawing inspiration from this rich tapestry of opera music, and in some cases, music from the ballets within operas, this cd hopes to thread together well-loved and cherished arias with less familiar gems.

Opera music is above all, music of the theatre. It is music that moves and evokes emotion. The cd Opera hopes to inspire and bring dancers on an artistic journey with music that feeds the soul, whether by bringing a sense of grandeur and magnificence into the ballet studio, or reflection, playfulness and joy. By offering pieces from the mid-seventeenth century through to the twentieth, Opera celebrates this profusion of exquisite music.