Home | Linden Baroque Orchestra

Welcome to the world of Linden Baroque!

Our next concert:
June 22nd 6:30pm St Stephens, Hampstead

'Baroque' style in art, architecture and of course music, was invented in Italy and the frequent journeys of musicians seeking fame and fortune, carried the new style across Europe. From the time of Henry Purcell, who sought to 'imitate the most famed Italian masters, as he wrote in his preface to a set of sonatas, Italian melody and rhythmic vitality became an integral part of European musical language, not least in Great Britain. With increased economic prosperity, London, especially, offered attractive opportunities for musicians and became a melting pot of cultural influence.

Our concert of fabulous Italian music features Antonio Vivaldi's wonderful sacred cantata written for the Pietà, 'Nulla in mundo pax sincera' , the Latin text fitting for our times, 'in this world there is no honest peace'. We are joined by the exciting young soprano, Josephine Shaw. We also play his popular concerto for two oboes, bassoon and strings in D minor.

Vivaldi, of course never came to Britain (maybe his asthma and the damp British air held him back?). He may represent the epitome of 18th century Italian music, but there were hundreds of other fine composers. We play music by two hugely influential Italians who spent many years in London, Francesco Geminiani and Francisco Maria Veracini, also a delightful recorder concerto by the extravagantly-named Giuseppe Francesco Gaspare Melchiorre Baldassare Sammartini with our director, Ashley Solomon as soloist. Sammartini spent most of his professional employment in London with Frederick, Prince of Wales.

Representing one of 'our own', we play an exciting concerto grosso 'after Scarlatti' by Charles Avison. He lived and worked in Newcastle but in his 20s studied in London with Geminiani. Domenico Scarlatti was, of course an Italian, who spent much of his life in Spain and Portugal and is particularly known for his 555 keyboard sonatas, some of which Avison used in his splendid set of 12 concerti grossi.

TICKETS (to include glass of wine/soft drink) £18 & £13 concessions (unwaged on benefits / Pension Credit recipients). Under 16y free. The concert will last around 1hr 30min with interval. Tickets will be available on door (preferably by card) but best to book online here:

"Linden Baroque Orchestra’s delightful Heroines in Opera concert last Sunday featured arias from Handel favourites, Giulio Cesare, Alcina and Semele sung exquisitely by young soprano Maryam Wocial. The orchestra’s elegant and sensitive accompaniments allowed Maryam’s glowing voice to bring life to Handel’s heroines in various states of frustration, despair and bliss. I was entranced. Offsetting the vocal offerings was the finely played Handel Concerto Grosso No. 6, which was unfamiliar but very engaging. And the January chill was mitigated with most welcome mulled wine. Altogether a treat. CK - Audience member, January 2025

Click on image for an A4 pdf

Later concerts - October 12th St Stephens directed by Ashley Solomon, December 6th, Handel Messiah, Heathfield, Sussex

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Recently gone:

- March 16th - The Elements: Rebel's extraordinary Les Elemèns framed by Telemann's exuberant Water Music and a symphony and Aria by Hasse.

- Jan 19th 2025 - Handel's Heroines of the London stage; An evening of thrilling soprano arias from 3 favourite Handel operas: Giulio Cesare, Alcina and Semele interspersed with delightful dance music from the operas as well as the fine Concerto Grosso Op.6 No.6. We were joined once more by the exciting young soprano Maryam Wocial - catch her before she hits the big time! Hear Handel's Piangerò la sorte mia from Giulio Cesare which we included.

- Dec 15th 2024 - A Baroque Christmas Collection with the Glühwein Singers. We had a full church and raised over £905 for Prostate Cancer Research (incl. a recent additional contribution). Thank you for all the generous donations!

Details of all our past concerts in 'Performances'

Our Musical Director

Our Musical Director is Ashley Solomon, the well-loved flautist and recorder player, director of Florilegium and Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music, where he has been a Professor since 1994. He is both a Fellow of the Royal College of Music (FRCM) and Royal Academy of Music (FRAM) in recognition of his outstanding services to music.

We feel very honoured that Ashley has agreed to take this position, which will help us develop the orchestra over a longer period.

Here is a fascinating recent interview made with Continuo Connect

Reviews from a recent concert (Feb 2023):

5/5 This was a most delightful evening. This is a beautiful church which is now used for concerts and private events. Very welcoming staff. I was glad I arrived early as the church soon became full. Wonderful music played by an amazing orchestra which included 3 oboes and bassoon and a harpsichord. The 1st violin, Maxim del Mar, was brilliant, playing such difficult pieces in the Hellendaal Concerto. They all stood for the entire concert…no mean feat but it meant we could all watch them playing! One of the best things about this concert was the fabulous detailed programme notes. It was a great evening, especially as there was no interval to break the mood. I will definitely follow this orchestra and hope to attend the next concert (DB)

5/5 Another very enjoyable concert by the Linden Baroque Orchestra. I found a seat in the front row within almost inches of the violins. Great fun and good listening in such a big space. Do appreciate the programme. It is both pretty and full of valuable information. Looking forward to the next concert in May. (KC)

I take this opportunity to say the concert was so enjoyable, thank you so much. We will be there for the one in May! I wish i had known of your concerts earlier! The atmosphere was very relaxed which is welcoming, the program notes and Mr.Solomon’s words where fun and interesting, with details i have not come across before. The program choice was inspired and i enjoyed listening to all, particularly the absolutely marvellous sound of the first viola, the velvet quality of that sound was gorgeous. We will repeat. (MGS)

5/5 This was a very enjoyable concert held in a very interesting church, with excellent printed programme provided. Pleasant helpers and refreshments. (CS)

5/5 Beautiful music. Very talented musicians. Lovely graphic design advertising event and programme. (CH)

Great concert. Just moved in area

and from the previous concert:

5/5 "Beautiful high class music and singing.Wonderful evening."

4/5 "Beautiful early music, beautifully performed by dedicated musicians of the genre."

5/5 "Greatly enjoyed hearing and seeing the Linden Baroque Orchestra again at St Stephens church being it has been four years since I last attended one of their concerts there. It seemed wonderfully personal being that we, the audience were so close to the musicians and the Leader/Director spoke to us sharing information about planning the concert etc. The theme of the concert, Pastoral Pleasures, was enhanced by the singing of Philippa Hyde. Thanks too for all the information in the program about the composers and the musicians.”

4/5 "A varied programme beautifully performed by the Linden Baroque orchestra and soprano Phillippa Hyde.”

This was our last concert in the summer

The first time we'd met since March 2020, for a 'play-day', happily directed by our founder, Maestro Paul Goodwin, on a rare break (between Israel and the US) in his busy international conducting schedule. We were also delighted to welcome back Julia Bishop to lead.

Our current main venue, St Stephen's, Hampstead

Some happy news
One of our fine cellists, Christine Draycott (you'll remember her beautiful continuo performances in the Bach Passions, including our last concert before lockdown), recently completed an historic aeronautical achievement, becoming the first civilian pilot to pass the exacting military flying instructors' course. Described as a "monumental task " it was only previously attempted by experienced military pilots. Having flown commercial airliners, she now instructs RAF pilots in the Grob training aircraft. Previously Christine played cello professionally with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. What a talented person! We wish her happy landings and a return to Linden when she is able.

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Ideal companions for a good evening out perhaps?
(a window from Islington's Union Chapel)