Presenting a programme headlined, by the most remarkable works of the Baroque period, Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos Nos 4 and 5, London Concertante head to St Giles' Cathedral as part of their 2018 UK and Ireland Tour.
London Concertante was founded in 1991 and has gone on to garner an outstanding international reputation. Alongside regular series of concerts at St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Southwark Cathedral, the ensemble also performs at the Southbank Centre, Cadogan Hall and Wigmore Hall, as well as performing across the length and breadth of the UK. International tours have taken them to the USA, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Finland, and they will be touring to Italy and again to Spain later in the year. Their numerous recordings receive regular airplay on global radio stations, and has helped to secure their position at the forefront of Classical performers in the UK.
The set of six Brandenburg Concertos feature among the most influential and iconic pieces of the Baroque era, that pushed the boundaries of what was capable and experimented with all aspects of music, in particular the treatment of the instruments. Brandenburg Concerto No 5 is often regarded as the first ever keyboard concerto, with some of the most difficult, dazzling and virtuosic passages for the Harpsichord player to undertake. Similarly, Brandenburg Concerto No 4 is renowned for the enigmatic and exciting technicality it requires from the first violinist. This tour features Vivaldi’s equally recognisable 'Summer' from the Four Seasons, plus a pair of works by Mozart that explore his magnificent compositional gift, with an introvert and wistful flute melody in the Quartet, and a contrastingly spirited and playful Divertimento finale.
If you don’t consider yourself ‘in the know’ about Mozart, Beethoven, or Bach, fear not, this is the orchestra for you. The London Concertante boasts a remarkable audience record in which an impressive 50% of spectators are first time classical concert goers! The London Concertante has its audience laughing at jokes, gasping at virtuosity, moved by gorgeous string playing, and leaving with a smile on their faces.
“Just exceptional. If you’ve always wanted to attend a classical concert, but feared it would be snobby or dull, this is for you… Wonderful.”
- A happy audience member (December 2017)
“A perfect evening out. We loved it.”
- Another happy audience member (November 2017)
“Heady stuff … thrilling virtuoso playing. Exciting listening”
- Gramophone Magazine