Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Classic hits from the hottest composers of the 18th Century. Find out more about some of the stories behind some of best-loved pieces of the era.

These days Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and their contemporaries are familiar to us through recordings, film soundtracks, adverts, ringtones or remixed as pop songs. Presented from the stage by the musicians of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, this concert explores why these composers became popular in the first place and why they remain so today.

Music to be performed includes The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel, Air on a G String, ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s desiring’ and Brandenburg Concerto No 3 by JS Bach, Spring from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi, Pachelbel’s Canon, plus music by Albinoni, Lully and Rameau.

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a trail-blazing ensemble that does things a little differently. Performances are given on ‘period instruments’ so your hear the music as the composers might have imagined it.

Handel : ‘The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’, from “Solomon” 4′
J S Bach : ‘Air’, from Orchestral Suite No.3 in D major, BWV 1068 4’
J S Bach : Prelude No.1 in C major, from “The Well-Tempered Clavier”, BWV 846 3’
Vivaldi : ‘Spring’, from “The Four Seasons” 10’
J S Bach : Chorale ‘Jesu, joy of man’s desiring’, from Cantata BWV 147 3’
Rameau : ‘Les sauvages’, from “Les Indes Galantes” 4’

INTERVAL

J S Bach : ‘Prelude’ from Suite No.1 in G major for solo cello, BWV 1007 4’
Albinoni : ‘Adagio’ from Concerto in D minor, for oboe and strings 5’
J S Bach : Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G major, BWV 1048 11’
Pachelbel : Canon in D major 4’
J S Bach : ‘Minuet’ and ‘Badinerie’ from Orchestral Suite No.2 in B minor, BWV 1067 3’
Lully : ‘Marche pour la céremonie des Turks’, from “Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme” 5’