Classical Artists Worldwide - Concert Royal: Georgian English Music Group

Concert Royal recreates the elegant sound worlds of the baroque and classical eras through historically informed performance. For over thirty years the ensemble has delighted audiences with enthusiastic and informative presentations.

Concert Royal has toured in Europe, the USA and for the British Council in South America and has given concerts in every corner of the UK, performing for festivals, music and arts societies, theatres, churches, schools, arts centres and in country houses.

Concert Royal's 2006 - 7 schedule included concerts for the Bideford, Hoylake, Totnes and Matlock music societies and festival appearances in Howden and Leicester. The ensemble entertained in Appleby Castle and in the splendid Georgian setting of Sledmere Hall near York.

Concert Royal is actively involved in education initiatives, visiting more than 50 schools in 2006. Young people participate in informative and entertaining workshops, learning about their musical heritage through singing, playing, composing and dancing.

Programmes for 2008/9

Musick for Awhile

A new programme for 2008-9 celebrating the 350th anniversary of the birth in 1659 of Henry Purcell, England's greatest baroque composer. Songs, cantatas and instrumental pieces by Henry, his brother Daniel and contemporary English musicians, together with short readings from Samuel Pepys' diary.

Music from Handel’s London

A delightful programme recreating an evening of musical entertainment from the Georgian drawing room. Handel's fine music and Dr.Arne's popular Shakespearian songs provide a familiar framework and Concert Royal's reputation for presenting unjustly neglected English music ensures that each performance contains exciting rarities, unique to the ensemble's repertoire.

"It was easy to imagine sitting in the elegant drawing room of a stately home" - Curry Rivel Music Club

Jane Austen’s Musical England

Jane Austen was a keen amateur musician with a large collection of music. Our programme includes songs and instrumental music drawn from Jane's collection and from contemporary sources. Brief extracts from letters and novels provide a fascinating glimpse into Jane Austen's musical world.

"The audience was transported into the elegance of the 18th century and the England of Jane Austen's time" Horsham Music Circle

Education Programme for children, families and primary schools

In this fast moving, interactive presentation Concert Royal's musicians share the simple pleasures of making music with their young audiences. The programme features flutes, recorders and whistles, 'cello and harpsichord in a wide variety of approachable popular music from Saint Saens' 'The Swan' to 'Greensleeves'.

"Many thanks for a wonderful concert. The children obviously enjoyed your playing, singing and musical activities" - Newton Abbot Primary School

Recordings

The London Trios (DA24117)

Concert Royal's Peter Harrison and Rachel Gray are joined by flautist Lesley Holliday in a new recording performed on historic instruments of Haydn's 'London' trios for two flutes and 'cello. These charming works demonstrate the composer's supreme craftsmanship and mastery of instrumentation.

The Jane Austen Collection (DA 2-4107)

Click on the CD cover to hear a sample from The Highland Laddie - Trad. arr Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) From "The Jane Austen Collection" - Divine Art Ltd CD 2-4107 (in RealAudio format)

A representative selection from the Austen family’s extensive collection of hand written and printed music which has been carefully preserved by the Jane Austen Memorial Trust. Jane’s novels tell us much about well-to-do country life in early nineteenth century England and her music collection provides a snapshot of contemporary musical taste.