Handel and Purcell - St Cecilia's Day

Handel – Mr Handel’s Waterpieces; Lascia ch'io pianga and Let the bright seraphim; Sei cara from Cecilia, volgi un sguardo
Purcell – If music be the food of love; O, fair Cedaria; Mark, how readily each pliant string; The Duke of Gloucester’s Sonata; When I am laid in earth (Dido’s Lament); Fairest Isle; Overture and Suite from The Indian Queen; Trumpet Suite from King Arthur.

The King's Consort
soprano Lorna Anderson
trumpet Crispian Steele-Perkins
director/harpsichord Robert King

[Pict R: Robert King & TKC Choir at Lucerne]

Wilton's Music Hall, 22 November 2011

This was a fine TKC concert given to a capacity audience in what may become the Consort's new London home.

Wilton's was decorated with festive Christmas lights and Robert King enthused about its suitability and similar size to London theatres of the 17/18 C in which the music would have been heard.

The core TKC consort was in excellent form. Steele-Perkins was, of course, a famous natural trumpet pioneer and he got ovations for his several contributions. The instrumental ensemble pieces, notably Purcell's Duke of Gloucester's Sonata & the King Arthur Trumpet Suite, were vibrant, with conductor Robert King holding everything tightly together whilst contributing discreetly at both harpsichord and chamber organ; Sarah McMahon at baroque cello demonstrated how continuo playing is far more than 'accompanying' - something that Julia Bishop had taught in a recent master class at Greenwich.

Lorna Anderson, a fine, versatile soprano with a rich lower register, captivated the audience in five Purcell items, both popular and rare, and three of Handel's.

Peter Grahame Woolf

The King's Consort has a Valentine's Day concert scheduled at Wilton's Music Hall in February

And consider buying their most recent Purcell release !