For Victoria and Albert's 200th | Rautio Piano Trio

This recital forms part of a special evening given in collaboration with the British-German Association to mark Victoria and Albert's 200th, a national celebration. It is also an illustrated one, with a focus upon the Prince Consort's role in the influential 19th century British Bach revival and narrative contributed by Barry Sterndale Bennett, Peter Smaill and Margaret Steinitz

In 1854 Bach’s St Matthew Passion was given its English première on 6 April in the Hanover Square Rooms directed by British composer, conductor, educator and administrator William Sterndale Bennett. The Prince Consort attended a subsequent performance in 1858. Both the Queen and the Prince were deeply interested in and moved by Music and the Arts; they played the piano together, brought up their children to sing chorales and motets together and hosted visits by their musical friends like the German Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn, who gave recitals in their honour. Prince Albert, composer of a Te Deum and organist, introduced the Queen to the music of Handel and his two volumes of compositions held in the Royal Collection at Windsor are a testament to his love of Lieder and chorales, his Lutheran up-bringing clearly evident. These two volumes reminds us of the volumes compiled by Bach for his second wife Anna Magdalena.

We have an intriguing and engaging story to tell, complemented by some well-documented illustrations, and fabulous chamber music of the period to take your breath away. This presentation of music and words will be preceded by an organ recital in tribute to Bach’s great German devotee Mendelssohn given by our organist Emerging Artist, Ben Bloor (London Oratory) on the composer's anniversary.

The evening is part of the London Bach Society's Bachfest 2019-20