How did Henry Purcell and John Dryden collaborate on King Arthur?

The collaboration between John Dryden and Henry Purcell on King Arthur (1691) represented a significant partnership in 17th-century English theatre. Unlike many of Purcell’s other stage works, which relied on interpolating songs into existing plays, King Arthur was designed from its inception as a dramatic opera—an entertainment specifically structured to integrate music and drama.12

In this production, Dryden provided the libretto, while Purcell composed the accompanying score. Their collaboration was highly successful, marking a high point in their professional relationship following the earlier success of Amphitryon (1690), which also featured music by Purcell. Through this work, Purcell demonstrated a remarkable ability to provide passionate musical expression that often elevated the dramatic intensity of Dryden’s text.21