Friday 20 February 2015 – Soloists from the OAE at the Guildhall

Works for flute, violin, viola da gamba and harpsichord made up the lunchtime recital in the Guildhall, opening with Handel’s B minor Trio Sonata HWV386b. This is a remarkably sombre work and the low lying flute part was at times lost towards the back of the hall. Even the final Allegro seems to have a cloud hanging over it, no matter how well played as it certainly was here.

Telemann’s Nouveau Quatuor No6 in E minor had both grace and charm, with lovely echo effects in the gentle Gracieusement and a reflective concluding Modere.

Bach’s Musical Offering deserves a concert to itself but it was good to hear the Trio Sonata if only for the way the individual musical lines enfold each other with such skill and sensitivity. In the Allegro we hear Frederick’s theme slipped into each instrument in turn, only to we spirited away in a mist of variations. It was the highlight of the afternoon though not the end of the concert.

Bringing us some warmth at last, Rameau’s Troisieme Concert in A major brought a smile not only with the enthusiasm of its rhythms but also the extrovert energy of the two concluding Tambourins.

The four soloists drawn from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment were Lisa Beznosiuk, flute; Alison Bury, violin; Jonathan Manson, viola da gamba, and James Johnstone, harpsichord.

This evening brings The Academy of Ancient Music to the Assembly Rooms for an all Bach programme.