Event

Spring Baroque

Purcell's Masque in Dioclesian reflects the origins of opera in court masque and further exemplifies the genre of pastorale, being set in a classical Arcadia where nymphs and shepherds mingle with gods and goddesses. - Imagine the delight of discovering Bach's Brandenburg Concertos for the first time, and you'll have some idea of what lies in store for first-time listeners to Telemann's Tafelmusik. Although Telemann isn't quite on Bach's level, this amazingly productive musician wrote many excellent pieces. He assembled some of his best work for the publication of this "dinner music" collection. - While Bach was director of the Collegium musicum in Leipzig, the student musical society often gave performances at Zimmermann's coffee-house. It was for these occasions that Bach produced his harpsichord concertos, among the first concertos for keyboard instrument ever written. The Concerto in D minor was often played and recorded on the piano in the 20th century and has remained the most popular of the keyboard concertos from the 19th century onwards. - Lost for nearly 130 years, the sparkling Mendelssohn String Symphonies, composed before Mendelssohn turned 14, are works that offer an amazing treasure chest of delights, not in any way inferior to the "mature" symphonies, nor the Classical models Mendelssohn so loved.