In his fourth Brandenburg concerto, Bach explores the contrasting sounds of two recorders and solo violin pitted against the orchestra. Pauline Nobes delivers the extrovert extravagance of the solo violin line, as one of the three solo instruments all sharing astonishing displays of colour, harmony and virtuosity. Michael Niesemann and Martyn Shaw perform Telemann’s toe-tapping Double Concerto for Recorder and Flute and solo trumpet Robert Vanryne is featured in Telemann’s Trumpet Sinfonia. We open the programme with a selection of music from Purcell’s King Arthur, one of Purcell’s most masterfully written music dramas, full of his gift for rich harmonies and memorable melody.
