Toad Lane Concert: The Telemann Baroque Ensemble

Telemann Baroque Ensemble

The sophisticated troupe of Baroque music makers made their welcome quarterly visit to Toad Lane Concerts on Wednesday 7 June. Their varied line up is drawn from the cream of freelance players in the NW and this time featured rare appearances of Alfred Pollard on oboe, and Kevin O’Sullivan bassoon.

They were ably supported by Elaine da Costa and Sarah Snape on violin, John Goodstadt viola, Roger Bisby cello, and Peter Collier harpsichord. This glorious sound filled the acoustic at St Mary in the Baum.

Like layering a sumptuous cake, the strings and harpsichord began with Fasch’s Quartet Sonata in G minor establishing a fundamental rich and full ensemble sound. Then the woodwind soloists announced their individual voices with Telemann’s Trio for oboe, bassoon and Basso Continuo in F major.

The two violinists provided a tonal contrast with Leclair’s Trio in d minor Op 4 No 1.

And the whole ensemble collaborated in the little-heard, exciting Reichenauer Concerto for oboe and Bassoon in B flat.

The musical notion of ensemble has a greater sense than just a group of individuals playing together, in the same place at the same time to the same end. It suggests cooperation, sensitivity to others, contribution to a shared expression, and so on, so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. So, with the Telemann Baroque Ensemble we have a true ensemble in name and nature.

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. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

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

Dr Joe Dawson