THE BAROQUE TRUMPET

THE BAROQUE TRUMPET

The Academy of Ancient Music at the Civic Theatre

01.03.15

This tribute to the virtuoso performers of the 17^th and 18^th centuries began with a bright fanfare, the work of Bach's own trumpeter, Gottfried Reiche. The notes are immortalised in a portrait of the musician, clutching his spiral instrument and a clearly legible scrap of manuscript paper.

The AAM have put together a clever programme of works both familiar and obscure. The Bach Double violin concerto, delicately phrased, with a real energy of expression in the closing Allegro. Biber's dramatic Battle, with tipsy soldiers, cannon, fife and drum.

And Vivaldi's Concerto for two trumpets, full of character and virtuosic charm.

Telemann's Concerto for Trumpet, Violin and Cello stood out even in this exalted company: David Blackadder, Rebecca Livermore and Sarah McMahon on excellent form, the eloquent aria for violin in the central Adagio was exquisitely done.

A trio of Bach Sinfonias to start, and a trio of trumpets – Blackadder joined by Philip Bainbridge and Robert Vanryne – in a triumphant Telemann Concerto to finish this glittering showcase of Baroque brilliance from the courts of Europe.

The programme booklet gave some information about the pieces played and the history of the orchestra. But only three performers were named, one of them Tine Thing Helseth, who withdrew from this tour for health reasons. Which makes four soloists uncredited, not to mention the rest of this excellent period instrument band ...

THE ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC

ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC

M&G Concert at the Civic Theatre

02.03.14

One of the best baroque bands around, the AAM brought their new programme to the Civic for this very enjoyable evening's music-making.

It's based around the Dresden Court of Augustus the Strong. Vivaldi's Venetian style was very popular there, apparently, especially when brass and wind were added to the mix. So the concert began and ended with concertos featuring lavish wind parts as well as virtuoso writing for the violin – the two horns, in particular, vied with Rodolfo Richter's fiddle [whose history goes back further than the music he played] to spectacular effect.

William Carter, whose lute is a mere ten years old, was the soloist in Fasch's Concerto, with its sensuous slow movement.

In a generous programme, we also heard a colourful Overture by Veracini, and two works by JS Bach, a lively Third Brandenburg, and the Concerto for Three Violins, with its scintillating finale.

The last Civic Concert for this season, at the end of the month, will feature the Orchestra of the Swan in Mozart and Britten.