The San Francisco-based Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra travels to St Martin's on Tuesday 2 August. It will be performing with the countertenor Tim Mead, under the direction of the early music specialist John Butt.
The Philharmonia Baroque brings to the forefront of its programming the creation and presentation of both old and new music, a hallmark of the ensemble’s versatility. This programme, full of contrast, contradiction, confrontation and a rich sense of internal connections, weaves the colours and drama of Handel’s characters – sacred, secular, heroic and hideous.
The Philharmonia Baroque’s Composer-in-Residence, Tarik O’Regan, and his good friend and colleague, the composer Errollyn Wallen CBE, have come together to create a collaborative music drama, entitled Ancestor, which has its London premiere. Together, Errollyn and Tarik have created an interlinked monodrama in two short, contrasting scenes, which explore and interrogate the creation myth – highlighting the conflicts and connections found in it. This programme highlights the PBO at its best – virtuosic interpretations of the old with reflections from the new that speak to the past, present and future.