The Secret Garden Cafe Concerts: Sound and Sentiment

Immerse yourself in the hidden world of 17th Century English music in a richly layered theatrical treat led by Principal Viola, John Crockatt.

Before George Frideric Handel arrived in London in 1712 and swept all before him, there existed a curious and captivating world of English music. The intricately woven tradition of English consort music was soon overshadowed by the fashionable arrival of Italian opera.

Step into this half-forgotten world with the music of William Lawes (1602–1645), Matthew Locke (1621–1677) and Henry Purcell (1659–1695). This is a place where sentiment, mystery and flashes of wild abandon lead us down pathways that are both familiar and thrillingly new.

Inspired by the coffee-house culture that Johann Sebastian Bach enjoyed in 18th-century Leipzig, The Secret Garden Café Concerts are a new series of relaxed, intimate performances. Each concert is curated by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s principal players, uncovering rarely heard musical curiosities and forgotten gems that seldom appear on the modern concert stage.

For these events, the Assembly Hall at our home in Acland Burghley School will be transformed into a welcoming café setting. Your ticket includes a generous slice of cake and bottomless tea, coffee or soft drinks.

Violinist Julia Kuhn and bass player Cecelia Bryggemyer playing in the playground at Acland burghley School

Japanese conductor Masaaki Suzuki conducts the OAE with singer Florian Stortz

OAE musicians run a workshop in a school classroom

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Tufnell Park, Acland Burghley School Assembly Hall

Saturday 30 May 2026, 14:30

Event detail

Immerse yourself in the hidden world of 17th Century English music in a richly layered theatrical treat led by Principal Viola, John Crockatt.

Did you know you can support the OAE?

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