Orchestra of the Swan present: Mysterious Barricades

The Courtyard’s resident orchestra, Orchestra of the Swan present Mysterious Barricades this spring.

The concert, directed by David le Page, includes pieces by Bach, Pachebel, Corelli, Marcello, Vivaldi, Purcell and Couperin, with Victoria Brawn on the oboe.

This programme demonstrates how a handful of composers were able to leave their indelible personal imprint upon prevalent musical forms such as the concerto, the chaconne and the kanon and consequently set in motion the inexorable march towards the vision of the composer as auteur, namely Beethoven. All these works are astonishing examples of the place where restriction engenders originality and craft spills over into genius.

Now principal oboe for Orchestra of the Swan, Bath Philharmonia and Longborough Opera, Victoria Brawn has had a varied career playing chamber music with such ensembles as the Innovation Chamber Ensemble and the The Harborough Collective alongside her own ensemble Dolce Musica. She recently received a five star review, her playing described as “sweet toned and shapely of phrasing” for her performance of the Bach Oboe and Violin Concerto with violinist Tamsin Whaley-Cohen and Orchestra of the Swan.

David le Page also returns to The Courtyard to direct this concert. Born on the channel island of Guernsey, David Le Page began playing the violin at the age of seven. He was offered a place at the Yehudi Menuhin school aged twelve and has since forged a diverse career as a performer, composer, producer and arranger.

Orchestra of the Swan: Mysterious Barricades will be in The Courtyard’s Studio Theatre on Thursday 23 March at 7.45pm, with a free pre-concert talk at 6.45pm. To book tickets, or for more information contact the Box Office on 01432 340555 or visit www.courtyard.org.uk.