Concerto Copenhagen III – Georg Muffat’s Armonico Tributo

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome one of the world’s leading baroque ensembles for a UK exclusive residency. They offer four wide-ranging programmes of beautiful baroque music including familiar composers as well as equally attractive works by lesser known figures. Under Lars Ulrik Mortensen’s direction a meticulous approach to historical material underpins its artistic orginality and continually evolving performance style and delivery.

If the composer’s name looks vaguely familiar it’s because it is an old form of ‘Moffat’ – Georg Muffat’s ancestors were Scottish. They moved to France in the early 17th century but although he was born in Megève in 1653, he thought of himself as German and ended his career in Passau. Concerto Copenhagen’s programme introduces us to this neglected but important, prolific composer. His great talent is superbly expressed in the ‘Armonico Tributo’ of 1682, a series of ‘sonatas’ which are really early concerti grossi ‘for a few or many instruments.’ Like Handel, the young Muffat went to Rome to learn from Corelli, so French influences mingle with Italian in this wonderfully rich music.

Muffat Sonatas Nos.1-5

Other performances: 9, 11 and 15 Sept