Toad Lane Concerts: The Telemann Baroque Ensemble

Telemann Baroque Ensemble

This refined troupe of Baroque players made their latest quarterly visit to Toad Lane Concerts on Wednesday 27 September.

Their varied line up, drawn from the cream of freelancers in the NW, this time featured Alasdair Roberts on flute, Elaine da Costa and Sarah Snape violins, Penelope Bisby viola, Roger Bisby cello, and Peter Collier harpsichord. This glorious combination clearly revelled in the acoustic at St Mary in the Baum.

Using the basso continuo (harpsichord and cello) as a basis, we had Telemann’s “La Changeante” (The Changing One), a French orchestral suite of changing moods and styles in a rare example of early programme music for strings. Then other individuals came forth in a pair of Trios: by Quantz for flute with violin, and Boyce for 2 violins.

A delightful movement from Bandini’s cello sonata gave the often-neglected fundament his time in the sun.

The finale involved everyone in Telemann’s Flute Concerto in D, where Alasdair led his colleagues in their sumptuous collective sound. With the TBE 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