MUSIC OF THE PLEASURE GARDENS

April 28, 2022 | Bohemian National Hall

The Four Nations Ensemble:
Pascale Beaudin, soprano
Thomas Cooley, tenor
Charles Brink, flute
Olivier Brault & Chloe Fedor, violins
Kristen Linfante, viola
Loretta O’Sullivan, cello
Andrew Appel, harpsichord

Illustrated talk by John Brewer

George Frideric Handel – Sonata for violin and continuo in D major
‘Sweet bird’ (L’Allegro)
‘Waft her, Angels” (Jeptha)
Thomas Chilcot – Orpheus with his Lute
J.C. Bach – Quartet in C major for flute, violin, viola and cello, Op. 8 No. 1
Joseph Haydn – Three Scot Songs

Symphony No. 104 in D major for flute, strings and keyboard, Hob. 1:104 (transcr. Salomon)

Photographs by Alex Fedorov © 2023

Eighteenth-century London’s pleasure gardens were public, commercial venues that hosted an array of musical entertainments, including organ recitals, vocal programs, and instrumental works such as Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks, premiered at Vauxhall in 1749. Impresarios drew on the music of the court, opera house, and concert hall for their open-air spectacles. By also offering art exhibitions, food and drink, and private spaces, they created an atmosphere of Arcadian escape. Composers’ views of the gardens varied: Handel was dubious, but saw his works regularly performed, whereas for court composer Haydn, London’s commercial music scene represented unprecedented freedom. And for pleasure garden audiences, performances were always more than just a concert.