Italian Legacies

Swinging London meets Italian flair, 18th century style. AAM presents Georgian England in the company of Arne, Boyce, Geminiani and Bach. But not the Bach you’re expecting…

The music scene in 18th-century Britain was a place where everything was up for grabs. A nation was remaking its identity – embracing global fashions and diverse cultures, and locked in passionate debate about its relationship with Europe. English composers wrote Italian operas, the spirit of Shakespeare met the inspiration of Corelli and Vivaldi, and Bach’s youngest son carved out a musical niche that was entirely his own.

It's a gloriously colourful world – both familiar and delightfully surprising – and for this performance, AAM dives headlong into a true musical melting pot. Linley and Boyce give classic literature a magical makeover, Geminiani brings London a taste of the hottest Italian fashions, and there’s a whole mini-opera from JC Bach – the so-called ‘English Bach’, who lived in London and is buried at St Pancras. Mozart was a fan, and you’re about to hear why.