Unlocking the Secrets of the Harpsichord

November 20th, 2007 – St George’s Church, Hanover Square, London W1

Following the very pleasing success of our Montisi Festival this summer and our very well-attended harpsichord and ensemble master classes, we are preparing to bring a slice of Montisi to London on Tuesday, November 20th at 7.30pm.  As a part of the London Bach Society ‘Bachfest’, our programme will include FOUR HARPSICHORDS and FOUR HARPSICHORDISTS (students from the summer master classes, hailing from Poland, Finland, Russia and Israel – including two Bruges prize winners and a Bach Leipzig prize winner).

The programme, entitled ‘Bach’s Skeleton Key: Unlocking the Mysteries of Harpsichords’, will be led and narrated by harpsichordist/conductor LAURENCE CUMMINGS, who, along with historic strings and music journalist WARWICK THOMPSON, will take us on an entertaining journey around Europe with the harpsichord, highlighting differences in national style and influences, with a special emphasis on JS BACH.

The programme will include:

• 1st movement Concerto in C major for two harpsichords, JS Bach – Tamar Halperin, Laurence Cummings
• Prelude non mesure in A minor, Louis Couperin – Matias Häkkinen
• The Hunt, John Bull – Maria Uspenskaya
• Toccata Quarta from il primo libro, Frescobaldi – Tamar Halperin
• Allemande for 2 clavecins from 9th ordre, Francois Couperin – Marcin Swiatkiewicz, Matias Hakkinen
• Sonata in E minor,  D.Scarlatti – Maria Uspenskaya
• Air and variations (Harmonious Blacksmith), G.F. Handel – Marcin Swiatkiewicz

INTERVAL (20 minutes)

• 1  Brandenburg Concerto No.5, J.S.Bach – Maria Uspenskaya

Narration and direction – Laurence Cummings
Commentary and script – Warwick Thompson
Strings from the Serafin Camerata Orchestra, London