CONCERTANTE OF LONDON
Director: Sir Nicholas Jackson

CONCERTANTE OF LONDON is a versatile ensemble performing with as few as 4 musicians playing baroque instruments for Nicholas Jackson's new realisation of Bach's 'A Musical Offering' expanding to10 or more players when performing works such as Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. It also frequently adds 4 young solo singers for the performance of choral works.

CONCERTANTE OF LONDON (originally called The Soho Concertante) made its first appearance at the reopening of the Banqueting House, Whitehall and for several years gave an annual series of about 12 London concerts - at The Wigmore Hall, The Banqueting House, Whitehall, The Victoria & Albert Museum and in The Queen Elizabeth Hall (they even appeared twice in the opening month of the QEH). Its players were principals of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and these concerts became part of the London musical scene attracting large audiences. The recorder player David Monroe took part in many of the concerts and early music concerts were sometimes given in conjunction with the Jaye Consort of Viols some of whose members played in the Concertante. In 1972 the Orchestra made 2 L.P Records for RCA containing Harpsichord Concertos by J.S.Bach, J.C.Bach and Mozart.

In 1987 Nicholas Jackson became Director of a Bach Festival at the Monastry of Santes Creus in Catalan and the Concertante in addition to playing at this 3-day Festival annually toured extensively all over Spain. Its soloists included Maurice Murphy (LSO principal trumpet) Anthony Camden (principal oboe LSO).

In 2003 Concertante of London became a Baroque Ensemble when N.J. made an edition of Bach's 'Musical Offering', which enables the whole work to be performed by just Baroque Flute/ Recorder-Baroque Violin-Baroque Cello-Harpsichord and performances with a commentary have been given at the Handel House Museum, The Holywell Music Room, Oxford, at Bangor University, for The London Chamber Music Society at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London and elsewhere.

In 2004 Nicholas Jackson made a reconstruction of 'The Triumph of Peace', the Masque by William Lawes, two thirds of the music having disappeared, and this was successfully performed, together with four young singers, at the Banqueting House, Whitehall on July 5th 2004 where it had first been heard in front of King Charles I in 1634. The counter tenor James Bowman also took part with the Concertante in this concert, and the Concertante together with James Bowman were immediately engaged to give another concert at The Banqueting House on 4th July 2005 when the programme will include a revival of the Concertante's performance of Bach's Coffee Cantata, Brandenburg Concerto No 5 and The Triumph of Peace by Wm Lawes.

On March 12th 2005 they are performing these works in The Holywell Music Room at the Oxford Music Festival sponsored by Hertford College. This programme is also being performed at Bangor University, N.Wales on April 12th .

For bookings contact:
The Management, 42a Hereford Road, London, W2 5AJ, UK
Tel: 0207 727 9669
Email: nicholas@jacksonmusic.co.uk