Johann Pachelbel is known today almost entirely for his Canon. However, he was one of the most important German composers of the seventeenth century, and was a great influence on his relative, the young Johann Sebastian Bach. This concert is an opportunity to explore more of his music, and two of Bach’s great works.

Philippa Hyde and Fred Jacobs return with a new programme of seventeenth-century music for voice and theorbo, focusing on the Italy of Monteverdi’s time. The programme includes songs and monodies by Monteverdi, as well as works by Landi, Rossi and Huygens, and recently discovered pieces for theorbo by Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger, the lutenist of German descent resident in Rome.

King Arthur is the second of the great semi-operas Purcell wrote for the London theatres in the 1690s, and contains some of his finest theatre music. John Dryden’s play tells the story of Arthur’s struggles against the Saxons, with plenty of emphasis on sorcery, magic and spectacular music. In this complete concert performance, Purcell’s music is linked by a specially written script conveying the essence of Dryden’s play.

Beethoven’s youthful Trio in B flat, Op. 11, is contrasted with a trio for the same instruments by his talented pupil and patron, Rudolf, Archduke of Austria. The programme also includes Beethoven’s early Sonata in F, Op. 5 No. 1, for cello and piano, and Weber’s Grand duo concertant, the greatest work for clarinet and piano from the early nineteenth century.

The bassoon has a long, colourful history stretching back to the Renaissance dulcian. In this informal lecture recital, Sally Holman plays works by Salaverde, Boismortier, Telemann, Mozart and others on historical bassoons and modern copies.

Apollo e Dafne is the greatest of the smaller dramatic works Handel wrote during his youthful years in Italy. It tells with great panache Ovid’s story of Apollo’s pursuit of the nymph Dafne, mixing virtuosic and heart-rending music. Handel’s vivid use of the orchestra was much-influenced by Corelli, who led orchestras for him in Rome.