The magnificent choruses and arias of Jephtha are some of Handel’s most emotionally charged music and his last great choral masterpiece. The dramatic narrative centres on the Old Testament story of Jephtha, who is compelled to sacrifice his daughter to fulfil a promise made to God. An outstanding quintet of soloists completes the line-up for an unmissable NNF09 opening concert.

Matthew Halls, conductor; Katherine Manley; soprano; Frances Bourne, mezzo-soprano; Iestyn Davies, countertenor; James Gilchrist, tenor; Peter Harvey, bass

Tickets and more information available at the N & N festival website

Vivaldi cantatas for countertenor, featuring Robin Blaze - countertenor.

Vivaldi cantatas for countertenor, featuring Robin Blaze - countertenor.

JS Bach cantatas for soprano, featuring Carolyn Sampson, soprano. Part of the Edinburgh International Festival 2009.

Programme:

Bach O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit BWV 210;
Non sa che sia dolore BWV 209

More details and bookings via the festival website.

Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks

Telemann: Ouverture in C (Wassermusik)

Handel: Water Music

3rd International Bach Festival, Seoul.

Soprano: Sunhae Im

Retrospect Ensemble

Soprano: Sunhae Im

Retrospect Ensemble

Members of Retrospect Ensemble join musicians from 'Collegium Musicum Hanyang'.

Katherine Manley, Soprano

Matthew Brook, Bass

Matthew Halls, Director, Harpsichord

Orchestral Suite from 'Rodrigo' HWV 5

'Silete Venti' HWV 242

'Apollo e Dafne' HWV 122

Soloists from Retrospect's 'Young Artists Programme' present a series of concerts featuring the music of Henry Purcell and give masterclasses/lectures on English music.

"English Baroque Music"

An Introduction for Singers.

Artistic collaboration with the exciting young Israeli Baroque ensemble, 'Barrocade'.

(See also Wigmore Hall April 15, 2010)

Artistic collaboration with the exciting young Israeli Baroque ensemble, 'Barrocade'.

(see also Wigmore Hall April 15, 2010)

Artistic collaboration with 'Barrocade'

Artistic collaboration with Mevasseret choir.

Artistic collaboration with Mevasseret choir.

Jonathan Manson, Cello

Matthew Halls, Director, Harpsichord

Divertimento for strings K138 Mozart

Concerto in C major for Violoncello and Orchestra Hob.VIIb:1 Haydn

Symphony in A major No. 29 K201 Mozart

Retrospect Ensemble Choir

Rachmaninov Vespers and choral masterpieces by Kalinnikov and Grechaninov.

Robin Blaze, Countertenor

Matthew Halls, Director, Organ

Cantata BWV 170

Organ Concerto (reconstructed from BWV 49 and BWV 169)

Sinfonia from Cantata BWV 42

Cantata BWV 35

Bach's Easter and Ascension Oratorios for Linn Records. (Scheduled for release in early 2011)

Soloists:

Carolyn Sampson Soprano

Iestyn Davies Countertenor

James Gilcrist Tenor

Peter Harvey Bass

With soloists from Retrospect Ensemble's Young Artist Programme.

In collaboration with 'Barrocades', Israel (see November 2009)

Matthew Halls, Director

Diverse Programmes (orchestral and choral)

More information to follow

"Dias da Musica" Festival 2010

Handel

"L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato"

Soloists include:

Soprano: Gillian Keith

Tenor: James Gilchrist

Bass: Peter Harvey

Orchestral programme of French Baroque dance music by Rebel and Rameau

A choral programme exploring the music of Monteverdi, Gesualdo and Schoenberg

Handel

Ode for St. Cecilia's Day

Soprano Gillian Keith

Tenor James Gilchrist

A performance of Handel's "Messiah" at the 2010 Gaude Mater International Festival of Sacred Music.

Soloists:

Gillian Keith Soprano

Iestyn Davies Countertenor

James Gilchrist Tenor

Andrew Foster Williams Bass

Purcell Sonatas Volume II for Linn Records

Five performances of Gluck's opera 'Orfeo ed Euridice' (Vienna version, 1762) at the Korean National Opera - in collaboration with Collegium Musicum Hanyang.

Celestial Music did the Gods inspire Henry Purcell

Suite from The Gordian Knot Unty'd Henry Purcell

Venus and Adonis John Blow

A sumptuous feast of English baroque music John Blow’s miniature opera, Venus and Adonis, stands out as one of the musical gems of the English Restoration with its popular mythological theme, lively dance music and exquisite vocal writing. Heard here alongside the glorious music of Blow’s most famous protégé, Henry Purcell, this promises to be a true celebration of one of the most exciting periods in the history of English music.

More details to follow

Domus Mea: Mikołaj Zieleński (c.1611)

Magna est Gloria eius: Mikołaj Zieleński (c.1611)

Chromatica: Adam Jarzębski
(c.1590-c.1648)

Os iusti meditabitur: Grzegorz Gerwazy (c.1667 - 1734)

Iustus ut palma florebit: Grzegorz Gerwazy (c.1667 - 1734)

Kantat na Organy Op.26: Henryk Górecki (b.1933)

Lacrimosa: Witold Lutosławski (1913-1994)

Canzon Quinta: Adam Jarzębski
(c.1590-c.1648)

Iesu Spes Mea: Damian Stachowicz (d.1699)

Veni Consolator: Damian Stachowicz (d. 1699)

Completorium: Grzegorz Gerwazy (c.1667 - 1734)

Bach at New Year

Joanne Lunn soprano

Robin Blaze countertenor

Charles Daniels tenor

Peter Harvey bass

Retrospect Ensemble

Christmas Oratorio Parts 4 and 5 Brandenburg Concerto No1

Sonata Quinta sopra 'Poi che rimena' Buonamente

Sonata IV Castello

Toccata Picchi

Sonata sopra 'la Monica' Marini

Sonata a tre 'Tanto Tempo Hormai' Turini

Ciaccona Tarquinio Merula

Sonata a tre Cima

Capriccio XIV Marini

Toccata Piccinini

Ciacconna a tre Cazzati

Sonata XVII Ucellini

A thrilling musical journey into the world of virtuoso Italian instrumental music. A programme featuring works by some of the leading lights of the seventeenth century.

Recording Sessions

Sonata Quinta sopra 'Poi che rimena' Buonamente

Sonata IV Castello

Toccata Picchi

Sonata sopra 'la Monica' Marini

Sonata a tre 'Tanto Tempo Hormai' Turini

Ciaccona Tarquinio Merula

Sonata a tre Cima

Capriccio XIV Marini

Toccata Piccinini

Ciacconna a tre Cazzati

Sonata XVII Ucellini

Julia Doyle soprano

Retrospect Trio

Retrospect Trio’s debut CD recording of Purcell’s glorious Sonatas of four parts received widespread critical acclaim in 2009 (including a Gramophone Award nomination). For this concert, featuring some of the most intimate and beautiful of Purcell’s chamber works, Retrospect Trio will be joined by the superb young British soprano, Julia Doyle. A delectable feast for all lovers of Purcell’s music.

Details to follow

A rare opportunity to hear a performance of the first Lutheran Oratorio. Buxtehude’s timeless masterpiece consists of a cycle of seven exquisitely-scored cantatas – each taking as its focal point a different part of Christ’s crucified body. Breathtakingly beautiful music for Passiontide.

First performed at the 2006 Galway Festival, Matthew Halls’ arrangement of this extraordinary variation set for string quartet and harpsichord receives its first London performance. Not to be missed.

Domus Mea
Mikołaj Zieleński

Magna est Gloria eius
Mikołaj Zieleński

Chromatica
Adam Jarzębski

Os iusti meditabitur
Grzegorz Gerwazy

Iustus ut palma florebit
Grzegorz Gerwazy

Canzon Quinta
Adam Jarzębski

Iesu Spes Mea
Damian Stachowicz

Veni Consolator
Damian Stachowicz

Completorium
Grzegorz Gerwazy

Vantaa Festival.

Bach Concertos

J S Bach - Trio Sonata in C BWV 1037

J S Bach - Viola da gamba Sonata no. 2 in D BWV 1028

J S Bach - Trio Sonata in G BWV 1039

J S Bach - English Suite no. 3 in G minor BWV 808

J S Bach - Trio Sonata in G (arr. BWV 530)

Retrospect Ensemble

Matthew Halls director, harpsichord

J S Bach - Cantata Unser Mund sei voll Lachens BWV 110

J S Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 BWV 1050

J S Bach - Magnificat in D BWV 243

Joanne Lunn soprano Julie Cooper soprano Christopher Ainslie countertenor Charles Daniels tenor Peter Harvey bass

Retrospect Ensemble

Matthew Halls director, harpsichord, organ