The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: a sense of novel wonder

By Edward Whitney, 26 May 2014

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Reviewed at St George's Bristol, Bristol on 23 May 2014

Corelli, Concerto grosso in D major, Op.6 no.1

Vivaldi, Sinfonia for strings in B minor, RV 169 "Sinfonia al Santo Sepolcro"

Beamish, Spinal Chords

Bach, Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV1041

Handel, Concerto Grosso in A major, Op.6 No.11, HWV 329

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Matthew Truscott, Director, Violin

Juliet Stevenson, Narrator

Mixed Mozart from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Dominic Lowe, 26th February

A Mozart's of symphonies – his last – under conductor Robin Ticciati is capped with a fine Jupiter, but is let down by the performances of its two predecessors.

***11

John Butt and the OAE celebrate Handel's Solomon

Roy Westbrook, 12th October

The Queen of Sheba is clearly in a hurry in this account of Handel's oratorio at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

*****

Enescu Festival immersion: Bach on the street, Klimt in the forest

Peter Quantrill, 11th September

At the George Enescu International Festival, a pair of new shows crossing genres and reinventing the classics, with mostly enlightening results.

****1

Brandstrup Breaking Bach with the OAE at EIF

Kathy Elgin, 20th August

Kim Brandstrup choreographs Bach favourites based on hip hop and street dance. Lie back on the bean bags at Usher Hall and enjoy...

****1

A strong new Figaro opens at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 29th June

Mariame Clément is a popular director at Glyndebourne, and her new production of Figaro shows her trademark approach to hardhitting comedy.

****1

Glyndebourne's Saul still packs a punch 10 years on

Nick Boston, 8th June

Returning from the original run, Christopher Purves and Iestyn Davies were joined by a strong cast and chorus for a revival of Barrie Kosky's striking production.

*****

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Edward Whitney

Edward is a trombonist, writer and critic based in Reading. He has an interest in small-scale arts projects and assists with a number of grassroots music groups. He is a supporter of amateur music and participation at every level.