Welcome to 2026

We certainly feel in the depths of winter and a cold dark January. But if we look a little way ahead, we have some wonderful concerts just round the corner. These start on the 7th of February when we welcome back Jane Burnell, soprano and Robert Vanryne, trumpet who along with our Manchester Baroque regulars will be playing in ‘Celebration’. We are particularly pleased to be performing our first Bach Cantata, the stunning Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen. These songs can’t fail to stir your soul. I’m also particularly looking forward to hearing James, Brendan and Andrew battling it out as 3 soloists in Telemann’s rarely performed triple violin concerto. All of this will be happening at Halle St Peters, which for those of you who have been there before will know is a great venue.

Just a week later, on 14th February, David Francis will be showcasing the harpsichord in an evening on Valentine’s night  - a special opportunity to enjoy the intricate sounds of this extraordinarily beautiful instrument.

I hope that both of these will help remind us of the spring that is on its way. On Good Friday, we will be celebrating that with Bach’s huge St Matthew Passion in Manchester Cathedral. This promises to be an extremely special concert as anyone who saw us perform it two years ago will tell you. Thank you to everyone who supported us to make it possible to play this again, it requires 2 orchestras and 2 choirs and is probably the largest Baroque ensemble you will see.

We’ve got a taster on social media so if you don’t follow us yet do check it out on our usual platforms and give us a like or follow.

Last year we began a partnership with Robert Hollingworth and York University which we are continuing this year with a four concert tour. It includes Zadoc The Priest and Handel’s music for the royal fireworks. We’ll be playing in Manchester on Friday 29th May.  It’s one not to be missed!

I hope to see you at one of our concerts this Spring.

Jessica