(Photo credit: Mark Allan) The English Concert announces the details of its spring 2025 spring season. Soprano Lucy Crowe performs a program of works by Handel and Corelli, under the baton of The English Concert’s founder, Trevor Pinnock. Performance Date: January 30, 2025 (Wigmore Hall) Up next sopranos Isabel Schicketanz and Joanna Songi, mezzo-soprano Lucile Richardot, tenor Samuel Boden, and {…}
(Photo credit: Paul Marc Mitchell) The English Concert marks its 50th anniversary with new releases of its legacy project, “Handel for All.” This spring the group will put on a number of special concerts and events in celebration, whilst continuing to build its library of recordings of Händel’s works that are free and accessible. Sopranos Jeanine de Bique and Liv {…}
(Photo credits: Chris Sorensen, Victoria Cadisch, Andrew Staples) The English Concert has announced its 2023-24 season. This article features vocal works only. Countertenor Iestyn Davies returns to the BBC Proms to perform “Late Night Bach.” Davies will perform two of Bach’s solo cantatas, “Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust” and “Geist und Seele wird verdwirret” at the Royal Albert Hall. Performance Date: {…}
The English Concert is set to record over 600 works by Händel as part of a project entitled “Handel for All.” The project will feature an online library that includes older recordings, newer recordings as they are added, live performances, a resource for all ages and abilities, interactive digital learning materials, and resources for academic institutions and cultural researchers among {…}
The English Concert has announced its 2022-23 season. In a statement Alfonso Leal de Ojo, chief executive of The English Concert, said, “The English Concert is deeply invested in bringing Handel’s music to audiences across the UK and the rest of the world. Following our performance of Solomon at the BBC Proms, we are delighted to be bringing this lavish {…}
The English Concert has announced its spring and summer 2022 slate. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal performances. First up will Bach’s “St. John Passion” directed by Peter Whelan. The work will feature Rachel Redmond, Helen Charlston, Mauro Peter, Konstantin Wolff, and Ashley Riches. Performance Dates: April 1, 2022 (Wigmore Hall) The company {…}
The English Concert has announced the fall portion of its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be on vocal and operatic performances. First up will be Händel’s “Samson” at the London Händel Festival, St. George’s Hanover Square. The showcase will star Stuart Jackson, Sophie Bevan, Paula Murrihy, Matthew Brook, David Shipley, and Rachel Redmond. Harry {…}
(Credit: Chris Lee) The English Concert has announced the program for its summer of concerts, with a focus on the works of Handel. The summer program will open with “La Resurrezione” on May 3, 2021. Presented and sponsored by the KT Wong Foundation, the production is filmed at St John Smith’s Square in London. Conducted by Harry Bicket, the soloists {…}
At the end of “Semele” the chorus sings “Happy, happy, shall we be.” The text is a perfect sobriquet for anything to do with Harry Bicket and the English Concert. Their forays into the world of baroque music are never less than an exhilarating experience for audiences and artists alike. Meticulous musicianship and a palpable passion for playing make their annual {…}
The Garsington Opera Opera will be teaming up with The English Concert and the Philharmonia Orchestra in 2020. In a press release, the company noted that the partnership will feature an increase in the number of productions per year from two-three with the Philharmonia, with The English Concert playing in one or two productions per season. The partnership with The {…}
Concert performances of operas can be a rather mixed bag. The works themselves were concocted with the vision of being complete art forms and taking them out of this context can be difficult. Many operas can get away with it simply by the symphonic qualities of the music (see Wagner or Strauss). But this can take an even more complex {…}