Just over a month on from our latest Handel blockbuster, and we’re still trying to catch our breath, such has been the critical acclaim that greeted us upon our return to the UK.
History man – Harry Bicket on the cover of Opera Now
Harry Bicket is well known to opera goers for his stylish, revelatory interpretations of Baroque operas, persuading modern orchestra to take a historically informed approach to their playing. This year, as music director of Sante Fe Opera, he branches out into Bernstein, bringing his broader musical horizons into focus. Heidi Waleson met the Anglo-American conductor in New York during the …
On the big screen: Messiah
Messiah as You’ve Never Seen It Before Coming to a Cinema Near You on Wednesday, 28th March 2018 for One Night Only Staged by the Tony Award-winning director Tom Morris (War Horse), this acclaimed dramatisation of Handel’s masterpiece from Bristol Old Vic provides a rare chance to rediscover the intense spirituality of its many well-known arias and choruses, beautifully performed …
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Kristian Bezuidenhout: Principal Guest Director
The 2017-2018 season marks the start of a wonderful partnership as Kristian Bezuidenhout becomes The English Concert’s Principal Guest Director. Catch a glimpse of the orchestra in action and hear from Kristian as we set out on our journey together. “I’ve had the great pleasure of working with these superb musicians many times, and I am always struck not just …
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Kristian Bezuidenhout: Keyboards in Mozart symphonies
For the majority of music in the baroque period, whether purely instrumental, chamber, or for the church or opera house, a keyboard instrument played a pivotal role in the continuo group. Yet for music of the classical period, especially the classical symphony, the role of the keyboard (or even if one is used at all) has become somewhat of a …
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Biber Rosary Sonatas
Ahead of The English Concert’s first appearance at Kings Place on 6 December 2017, violinist Nadja Zwiener offers her insight into the ferocious virtuosity required to play Biber’s music and the intimate sound world he creates with the use of scordatura.
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Handel: Ariodante ‘Cieca notte’
Richly scored and tightly plotted, an all-star cast brings to life one of Handel’s finest operas, Ariodante. Following her stunning appearance in Alcina in 2014, the latest instalment in our Handel opera series sees the return of Joyce DiDonato in the title role. Marking 500 years since the publication of Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando furioso, a tale of knights and entangled …
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Handel: Ariodante ‘Bramo aver mille vite’
Richly scored and tightly plotted, an all-star cast brings to life one of Handel’s finest operas, Ariodante. Following her stunning appearance in Alcina in 2014, the latest instalment in our Handel opera series sees the return of Joyce DiDonato in the title role. Marking 500 years since the publication of Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando furioso, a tale of knights and entangled love, Ariodante stands as Handel’s final …
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Handel: Ariodante ‘Scherza infida’
Richly scored and tightly plotted, an all-star cast brings to life one of Handel’s finest operas, Ariodante. Following her stunning appearance in Alcina in 2014, the latest instalment in our Handel opera series sees the return of Joyce DiDonato in the title role. Marking 500 years since the publication of Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando furioso, a tale of knights and entangled love, Ariodante stands as Handel’s final …
2017/18 season launch
Welcome to the 2017/18 season with The English Concert; a season in which we celebrate Harry Bicket’s 10th anniversary as Artistic Director. The orchestra has made great strides in the Harry Bicket decade. Not only has Harry pushed the level of musicianship and performance to higher levels, we have also expanded our repertoire and greatly increased our visibility and profile, …