Toad Lane Concerts: Telemann Baroque Ensemble

Telemann Baroque Ensemble

Though not going back quite as far as the first Queen Elizabeth, the Telemann Baroque Ensemble brought to life early music for the second Elizabeth at Toad Lane’s Platinum Jubilee Concert for HM the Queen.

This troupe of music makers has become a regular feature at St Mary in the Baum’s midday music. The line-ups may vary and draw on a vast repertoire, so no two concerts are the same, but the quality stays constant.

On Wednesday 1 June we had a performance from the largest grouping yet with seven players. Effectively a string quartet with solo flute and oboe with the ubiquitous harpsichord, this was an ideal combination for concertos for flute and oboe. Hints of the classical orchestras to come after the baroque period.

Peter Collier led his troupe from the harpsichord and acted as compère providing us with informative background and context to the music.

Flautist Alastair Roberts played a concerto by Carl Stamitz followed by oboist Alfred Pollard in a concerto by Friedrich Handel. Both extremely able and experienced players and soloists in the northwest, their playing certainly lifted the music from the page.

This was followed by Archangelo Corelli’s Trio Opus 2 No 1, where the strings and harpsichord came into their own, with skilled players Elaine da Costa and Sarah Snape on violins, John Goodstadt on viola, and Roger Bisby on cello.

Finally, the full ensemble gathered for a double concerto for flute and oboe by Johann Fasch. Soloists blended and contrasted with the rest of the group once again proving that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

This was glorious music-making in the wonderful acoustic of St Mary in the Baum. Their next appearance will be on 7 September.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available now, but the venue is Covid-19 compliant. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson