Britain’s Orpheus – Press Release

The English Concert with artistic director Harry Bicket is delighted to announce a series of concerts from 1-15 October 2020. The concerts take place in historic venues with star soloists and will be performed and streamed live to a paying audience at 7pm GMT on each performance date. The programmes include first-class vocal and instrumental works from the two pillars of the English Baroque, covering different aspects of the repertoire.

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Handel – Ritorna, oh Caro

Lucy Crowe performs this stunning aria from Handel’s Rodelinda, capturing the sense of loss exquisitely, begging for the return of her beloved. Performers:

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Marcello – Oboe Concerto in D Minor

There are not many instrumental pieces that are as beautifully poignant as this one. Katharina Spreckelsen performs here the second movement of Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D Minor with The English Concert principals directed by Kristian Bezuidenhout. Performers:

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Bach – Chaconne | Nadja Zwiener

Nadja Zwiener, leader of The English Concert, performs Bach’s mighty Chaconne from his Partita for Solo Violin in D Minor BWV 1004 at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, where the composer’s remains rest.

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Handel – Passacaille – Kristian Bezuidenhout

The passacaille dance takes its name from the Spanish dance pasacalle (literally “walk-about”). It presents a wonderful series of inventions over a recurring bass line. This movement, first heard in Handel’s opera Radamisto in 1720, was repurposed for his Sonata Op. 5 No. 4 in G Major. Recorded here by The English Concert and Kristian Bezuidenhout at the Henry Wood Hall in London in November …

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Bach – Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe – Kristian Bezuidenhout

Bach reserves some of his most beautiful music for the moment of death. In this video, Katharina Spreckelsen performs the soaring oboe line in this exquisite sinfonia from Cantata 156 with The English Concert, directed by Kristian Bezuidenhout. Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe / I stand with one foot in the grave.

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Purcell – Rondeau from The Indian Queen with Kristian Bezuidenhout

Listen to this sweet short Rondeau from Purcell’s The Indian Queen was recorded by The English Concert and Kristian Bezuidenhout at the Henry Wood Hall in London in November 2019. Performers: Nadja Zwiener, Tuomo Suni – ViolinAlfonso Leal del Ojo – ViolaJonny Byers – CelloKristian Bezuidenhout – Harpsichord and Director