I am, as you have probably gathered, a bit of an Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment groupie. Not just because they make lovely music, which of course they do, but because they do such interesting things.
Basing themselves in a school for a start, where they can, and do, interact with the kids on a regular basis. Playing Vivaldi and Mozart in local pubs – or creating a break dance routine with the the school children and professional dancers and choreographers – to Bach’s music. Linking up with astronomers, physicists and mathematicians in their Bach the Universe and Everything series at King’s Place. And this summer – their Secret Garden Café.
The garden café was inspired by Leipzig’s Café Zimmerman where JS Bach had presented his Coffee Cantata. So, working with their Dreamchasing Young Producers group at Acland Burghley, the OAE converted the school’s large central hall into a garden complete with arbours, and bowers laden with stunning paper flowers, leaves and plants. Over 5,500 pieces of paper and twists of wire went into a circular playing space for the musicians, surround by wheel like spokes made up of tables, laden with cups, saucers, tea and delicious cakes (chocolate, carrot, banana and walnut, apple tart and lemon tart…) all ready for the audience.
Musical offerings (from an orchestra all suitably attired in floral shirts and dresses) was 17th century French – Lully, Rameau, Georg Muffat and a delightful piece by Michel Richard de Lalande commissioned by Louis XIV to be played while he was eating. What could have been more appropriate – and here it is….
The garden café has now, sadly, been dismantled to make way for the builders who are about to give the Grade 2 listed ‘brutalist’ hall a bit of a make over. But they will be back.
Sunday 12th July – Highgate Society Lunchtime concert
Meanwhile, you could do worse that join us for a lovely bit of jazz next Sunday with the Lior Solomons Wise trio. A firm favourite with our Sunday lunchtimes audiences, Lior is back – but this time with a new trio. His brother Noam on drums and Guy Dempsey on double bass.
£15 for the concert a glass of Bucks Fizz.
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