Describing Bach’s students as ‘jewels that brightly burn’, Telemann championed Bach’s skill in arranging music to inspire a new generation of musicians as they performed ‘under the orange tree’ in Leipzig. This programme tells the story of Bach’s students as they became ‘jewels’ and includes arrangements of his joyous instrumental music alongside Telemann’s stunning ‘Paris’ quartets and suites by Pisendel.

This programme takes its title from a page of a well-thumbed diary, written in rapture after attending a concert in the 1760s. John Courtney (1734-1806) was a gentleman with a deep love of music and he recounted his musical experiences in a journal as he visited London’s plays, concerts, theatres, and balls. This programme explores the extraordinary music of Courtney’s world and includes music by Corelli, Sammartini and Courtney’s ultimate favourite - Handel.

Handel was an art-lover and amassed a stunning collection that he hung in his London home where musicians rehearsed for upcoming operas. This collaboration between countertenor Alexander Chance and Ensemble Augelletti includes arias from Handel’s Giulio Cesare and Rodelinda alongside instrumental chamber music by Handel, Geminiani, and Castrucci that was rehearsed in his dining room. The event can be prefaced with a pre-concert talk on Handel’s art collection.

In a world that needs kindness, this programme highlights friendships and a shared love of music between 18th Century musicians, composers, concert organisers, and listeners. Pairing compositions together, we present music that was created, supported, or made possible by acts of kindness and friendship. With music by Bach, Vivaldi, Anna Amalia, Telemann, and the mysterious Mrs Philarmonica, we reveal remarkable friendships through letters and anecdotal accounts.

In this informal performance, members of Ensemble Augelletti share some of the 17th and 18th century folk tunes and country dances that filled taverns, coffee houses, and social spaces of Georgian towns. Join us with a drink to share 18th century settings of folk tunes notated by Geminiani and Barsanti, hear domestic arrangements of theatre tunes by Purcell and Handel, and country dance tunes popularised by 18th century balls and assemblies.

Anna Amalia, Princess of Prussia (1723-1787), was an extraordinary woman who made an enormous contribution to cultural life in 18th Century Berlin. Anna Amalia’s careful curation of 625 scores in an astonishing music library paint the musical portrait of a sophisticated and stylish musician, fascinated with the workings of musical line and texture. This programme highlights music from her personal library and includes music by Anna Amalia, JS Bach, Handel, and CPE Bach.