We are a professional ensemble based in Manchester but working across the North. We play music written between roughly 1600 and 1750 as we think it would have been heard then. We use instruments (and replicas) from the period and perform in a style we think reflects how the music was played at the time.

We think it is beautiful sounding - energetic, engaging, tuneful. We play everything from small chamber concerts with a just a few musicians to very large concerts with a choir and full orchestra. Baroque instruments have a soft, intimate sound and are played at a different pitch to modern instruments. This means the same 'note' on the page sounds lower when we play. Many of the pieces are very short - they were like the pop music of the day.

Probably the best known piece is Vivaldi's Four Seasons.  It's wildly popular 300 years after it was written - and rightly so given how good the tunes are.  But Handel, Bach and Corelli are other well known composers and the lovely thing about our concerts is that we often play pieces that are very little known and may never have been publicly performed in this city.

We always send an email out before the concert saying what time the doors open, when it finishes and other useful logistical information. Seats are unallocated within the area you have bought tickets for so it is worth getting to the concert early so you can choose one. During the concert the performers talk about the pieces you will hear, giving you an insight into the music, period and their instruments. There will also be programmes - free for small concerts and with a charge for the larger ones.  

Whatever you feel comfortable in. There is no set dress code and no one will judge you!

Yes! All the musicians are professionals and at different stages of their careers. We are very lucky to have extraordinarily accomplished players who, led by Dr Pauline Nobes, are creating an amazing sound. Manchester Baroque has been formed as a charity and has a very active set of trustees who work as a team with the musicians, our funders, donors and most importantly of all you, our audience.