ARIOSO programmes
             We develop new programmes for each concert season but also offer custom-made
               programmes to suit particular needs or venues (eg  local activities, people, historical
               features).  Examples of some of our past programme themes include:

               The Architect & the Brickdust man - a voyage through Georgian musical society to
                reflect the new exciting music and society of 18th century England. Works by some of
              the best loved Georgian composers including pleasure garden songs still well-known today (eg
             ‘Sally in our alley’, ‘Tom Bowling’) and instrumental music. The main work is a complete
              performance of Dibdin’s celebrated comic dialogue/serenata ‘The Brickdust Man’ (almost a
              mini opera!) for soprano and tenor  with band reflecting common life and loves in Georgian England.
                                                                   
               L'amore e la morte: a programme of predominantly Italian music from the 17th century:
               full of passion and human intensity. Composers include Monteverdi,Uccellini, Vivaldi,
              Turini, Rossi, Cavalli.

           'Musicke is the Thing':   the musical life and times of the Restoration diarist and
            musical dilettante Samuel Pepys (with optional diary readings). Works by Purcell,
            Locke, Lanier, Lully, Lawes, many of which are mentioned in the diaries.

                   Le Nuove Musiche:  vocal and instrumental music from Italy and England in the new
               'baroque' style developed at the turn of the 16th/17th centuries. Works by Falconieri,
               Merula, Monteverdi, Uccellini, Grandi, Johnson, Simpson, Lawes, Locke.

           'To drive the cold Winter away':  various Christmas programmes with appropriate
            period music and optional seasonal readings (from Pepys diaries and others).  Including
            pastoral cantatas by Scarlatti, Legrenzi, Bonporti with Christmas concertos by Schiassi,
            Corelli, and early English Psalmody and carol settings.

           That Matchless Man: an all Purcell programme first performed to celebrate 
            the his tercentenary and including some of this great composer's finest chamber works.

           'The Eclypse and Glorie of her Kind':  built around the tragic life of Elizabeth of
            Bohemia, the 'Winter Queen' and daughter of James I; with music by Mr Beck,
            Johnson, Lanier, Marini, Schutz, Monteverdi and Colista.

             Select Ayres and Dialogues:  Italian and English solo songs with duets for soprano and
            tenor voices with contemporary instumental music. Composers include Monteverdi,
            Frescobaldi, Caccini, Ives, Lawes, Lanier.

           The Marvel of Peru:  an early view of the New World -  images of the Incas and other
           "noble savages" by European composers including Rameau, Purcell, and Graun.

           'That splendide Science call'd Musick': based on the musical reminiscences of Roger
            North (with optional readings); works by Locke, Lanier, Scarlatti, Matteis, Corelli and
            others.

                Fierce Delights and Amorous Fires: a baroque view of affairs of the heart - featuring
            predominantly Italian and French songs interspersed with instrumental music of the time.

            'And so to Vauxhall.....': music for the 18th century London and provincial pleasure
            gardens with instrumental and vocal works by Arne, Boyce, Chilcott, JC Bach, Abel,
            Hook and others.

            Before Bach - precursors and influences:  some composers and musical styles which
            formed the background to Bach's development. Works by Schutz, Hammerschmidt,
            Buxtehude, Rosenmuller, Krieger and others.

                Mystery and Imagination:  cantatas, songs and instrumental music principally by
            Heinrich Biber and Marc-Antoine Charpentier, first given in 2004 to celebrate their
            tercentenaries.

            'Who knows what song the sirens sang....': music from the early baroque by
            predominantly women composers and performers.  Including works by Barbara Strozzi,
            Francesca Caccini, Vittoria Arcilei.

            A Venetian Passiontide: seasonal sacred vocal music by Monteverdi and his
            contemporaries, including instrumental works by Marini, Cavalli, Gabrieli.

            Pergolesi - Stabat Mater:   a concert with this great work at its centre together with
            contemporary instrumental works by Monn, Scarlatti, Stamitz.

            John Carr's music:  works familiar to the famous 18th century Yorkshire architect
            reflecting the changes in musical fashions throughout his long life.

                Les Gouts reunis: exploring changes in musical fashions in the late 17th/early 18th
            centuries and especially the transition from individual national schools to a new
            generalised 'classical' style. Works by Vivaldi, Lully, Corelli, Monteclair, Purcell,
            Handel, Arne, Telemann, Quantz, Bononcini.

            'If Musike and Sweet Poetry agree....' :  an exploration of the relationship between
            words and music which lies at the heart of the new baroque music.


                  Examples of specimen programmes with notes, texts, translations and full listings are
              availabe on request (click on 'Contact'). The concerts to celebrate the anniversary of
             John Carr or the Christmas concerts are examples of customised programmes.