London Calling

An adventurous recital focusing on members of the double-reed family. With two oboes and baroque bassoon positioned alongside two recorders and harpsichord, this very rare concert offering is sure to captivate, surprise and delight.

A Window into Early Eighteenth-Century London

Step into the vibrant musical world of early eighteenth-century London, where a remarkable group of expatriate composers found fame and opportunity in the city’s thriving theatre scene. Drawn to the energy and ambition of London around 1720, these gifted musicians brought with them a rich continental style that helped shape the sound of the capital’s stages.

This program celebrates these composers’ remarkable creativity and the stories behind their journeys—tales of ambition, collaboration and artistic exchange in one of Europe’s most exciting musical centres. Though once widely admired, many of these composers are now rarely heard. Their music reveals a captivating blend of drama, elegance and virtuosity, offering a fresh perspective on a fascinating chapter of musical history.

The Program

The program profiles a series of now highly underrated expatriate composers (Pepusch, Finger, Keller, Loeillet and Lincke) who made their way in the London theatre scene near the end of the baroque period. William Babell is the local Englishman, and his sublime F major concerto is positioned as a magnificent centrepiece.

The Ensemble

This assembly of musicians brings together leading figures in Australian early music and period instrument performance. Dedicated exploration of historically-informed approaches, spanning the music and style of the 17th and 18th centuries in particular, has led to engagements with the likes of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Genesis Baroque, Pinchgut Opera, Bach Akademie Australia, the Australian Haydn Ensemble, Melbourne Baroque Orchestra and many ensembles internationally. The ever-inquisitive approach and vast collective imagination of Mikaela Oberg, Adam Masters, Kailen Cresp, Nicholas Dinopoulos, Ben Hoadley and Justice Karol breathes new life into this program of long-forgotten works.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to advise that harpsichordist Linda Kent is unable to perform in this program as previously advertised.