Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
composer
His times: In Bach’s Germany, music was centred on the church which was unfailingly where its finest practitioners were found.
Read MoreFlute
The flute has appeared in many guises over the ages, making it the orchestral instrument with the richest history. Here we will take a brief look at its story.
Read MoreThrough the grapevine: St Matthew Passion
Tue 7 Apr 2015
Pats on backs all round for last week’s St Matthew Passion in London.
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Speed Interview: Robin Blaze
Fri 27 Mar 2015
In the run-up to our St Matthew Passion concert, we interview counter-tenor Robin Blaze.
Read MoreGreen Week
Fri 20 Mar 2015
As you may or may not know, OAE is committed to environmental sustainability. We are so committed, in fact, that we are spending the whole week celebrating it alongside our office neighbours, the London Sinfonietta. Yes, that’s right: it’s Green Week.
Read More5 things you (probably) didn’t know about Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera
Mon 30 Jun 2014
We’re currently performing La Finta Giardiniera at Glyndebourne Opera House. Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about this Mozart opera, check it out and tell us about it!
Read MoreExit Interview: Matthew Grindon
Thu 26 Jun 2014
Our Marketing and Press Officer, Matthew Grindon, responsible for a lot of the content on this website and on social media, left the OAE team last week for pastures new. We put our Exit Interview questions to him…
Read MoreCurrent Distractions
Fri 20 Jun 2014
As I will sadly be leaving the OAE this is my last arts blog, but stay tuned; my fantastic colleagues will be taking over and shall continue to bring you interesting things from the art world. I’ve really enjoyed doing this and so thanks to everyone who read it! (aka my mum). Only joking – my mum never reads it.
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Operamaniac
Tue 17 Jun 2014
Opera might have emerged as a form of art to entertain the rich and powerful, but it soon became used as a way to express political and social discontent. You might think such liberties are only a product of the 20th century, but the fact is kings and governments throughout history have trembled and even fallen because of Opera.
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Gamechangers: Mildly Rude in rehearsal
Tue 10 Jun 2014
Boyce’s Solomon – A Serenata was wildly popular in its day and even eclipsed Handel’s Messiah in the popularity stakes. But it’s libretto was perhaps slightly racy and it fell foul of later, more prudish, tastes.
Watch the video below for a sneak peek at our rehearsals.
Read MoreMusic, Mermaids and the A-Team
Fri 6 Jun 2014
When Education Director Cherry Forbes calls you up about a project, you know it’s going to be something good and I’m laying my cards on the table – I’m not sure this one will be easily topped!
Read MoreSing-a-long-a-Spitalfields
Wed 4 Jun 2014
Who doesn’t like a sing song from time to time? Impress your neighbours next time you’re in the shower with our handy phonetic guide to Ich ruf zu dir Jubilate Domino and Vater unser in Himmelreich by Praetorius, courtesy of Robert Howarth – both of which we perform this Friday at the Spitalfields Festival.
Read MoreOAE Market Hunt
Tue 3 Jun 2014
Fill your lunch hour with music next week, as we head to Spitalfields for a four-part series of pop-up performances.
Read MoreCurrent Distractions
Thu 29 May 2014
In this week’s Current Distractions – surreal dogs, fun chocolate and a dormant crust of planetary mass that hasn’t spewed out anything hot in years.
Read MoreMildly Rude?
Thu 29 May 2014
On 12 June we close our Southbank 2013-2014 Season with Gamechangers: Mildly Rude?, so called for its inclusion of Boyce’s Solomon – A Serenata, which caused outrage when performed in front of Victorian audiences.
Read MoreSpitalfields Music Summer Festival
Thu 29 May 2014
Spitalfields! If it was an actual field you wouldn’t visit it, but it’s not, it’s a hive of cultural activity that we love, and this year we’re all over it.
Read MoreSteven Devine: Speed Interview
Tue 27 May 2014
On 12 June, Steven Devine will direct the OAE in Gamechangers: Mildly Rude? Here we spoke with him about Bach and The Butterfly Effect…
The Hall of the Shame
Mon 19 May 2014
Over the last few weeks absolutely loads of you have been in touch to tell us your most hated classical pieces. And we weren’t exempt, with one person arguing this ”doesn’t achieve anything. Just more nauseating PR”, I think it’s safe to assume we made his hall of shame. We had a great laugh hearing some of your responses and have put together the definitive list. So get your ear plugs at the ready, here’s you top ten most hated classical pieces.
Read MoreWilliam Boyce (1711-1779)
Composer
His times: As was the case for most professional musicians at the time, the church shaped much of William Boyce’s early musical life. He sang at St Paul’s Cathedral in whose shadow he was born, before holding appointments as organist at a number of city churches and becoming Master of the King’s Music.
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