Songs of Love: Henry Purcell, Sweeter than roses

There's nothing like a love song, whether celebrating the joy of newly-found love or lamenting it's loss, the love song throughout history has expressed this most powerful of human emotions in ways that no other art form can begin to match.

During the month of February when we traditionally don our cupids, break out the red velvet hearts, and indulge our lovers with chocolate and flowers, I thought it might be fun to feature some of my favorite love songs from the classical repertoire starting with this delightful early Baroque piece entitled Sweeter than roses by the English Baroque composer, Henry Purcell, sung here by soprano, Emma Kirkby.