Apollo’s Fire: Pubs and Palaces of 1610

Step back in time to the year 1610 with Apollo’s Fire this lunchtime. This fascinating programme explores the rich musical world of 17th-century Europe, where music flowed freely from taverns to courtly halls.

Art music and popular music walked hand in hand in those days, as many composers wrote artful variations on popular songs. The sounds of plucked instruments – lute, oud, and harps – accompany voices and violin in this musical voyage from the British Isles to the Mediterranean. Performing in the historical troubadour tradition, harpist/soprano Anna O’Connell accompanies herself in John Dowland’s soulful lament, Flow My Tears. Soprano Lucine Musaelian accompanies herself on the viola da gamba as she sings a haunting Armenian love song. Oud master Ronnie Malley sets sparks flying as we finish the program with a brilliant Turkish dance.

Part of Apollo’s Fire Residency at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Be sure to catch the full baroque orchestra in their Friday evening programme (“FENCING MATCH”) and their Saturday evening concert (“O JERUSALEM!”).