Lo! Here the Gentle Lark is a Coloratura aria with virtuoso Flute and Piano accompaniment whose flourishes, cadenzas, trills and Vocalise passages create much musical excitement. A high duet between Flute and Soprano near the end is particularly flamboyant and thrilling. Henry R. Bishop was a composer active throughout the early 19th century, writing operas – though in the old style that was more akin to today’s musical theatre than to through-sung Continental opera – as well as many songs for theatrical performances and reworkings of other composers’ creations.One of Britain’s most famous composers of his time, he was the first musician ever to be knighted – by Queen Victoria in 1842 – and has since fallen, mostly, into obscurity.
