Directed by Jeannette Sorrell, the group’s founder, harpsichordist and conductor, the group join award-winning French soprano, Sandrine Piau in a three-concert tour of the UK and Austria.
Piau, Sorrell and the ensemble explore the passions of the Baroque in a programme including 'Il primo ardor' from Handel’s Ariodante, 'Piangerò' from Giulio Cesare and Vivaldi Concerto for 2 cellos in G minor, as well as Vivaldi Concerto Grosso ‘La Folia’ (Madness), in an acclaimed arrangement by Jeannette Sorrell and performed by memory by the ensemble.
Jeannette Sorrell and members of the ensemble also appeared on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune.
“…a terrific concert. The group’s director, harpsichordist Jeannette Sorrell, had put together an ingenious programme which showed off the ensemble’s range of colour, mood and style… The players’ agile grace and unforced lyrical energy made them ideal partners for Sandrine Piau, who has the same qualities. She caught the virtuoso fire of Handel’s Il primo ardor, without once losing the lovely soft tone which suffused the slow arias…”
Ivan Hewitt, 4* Daily Telegraph
“Artistic director Jeannette Sorrell knows her repertoire well, and chose a wonderful selection of works to showcase her band. Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Cellos in G minor is a delight - a ferocious battle of "Anything I can do..." proportions between the two soloists. With only 15 musicians, including Sorrell herself directing from the harpsichord, Apollo's Fire were here in decidedly pared-down form, and the two cellists slipped between solo and continuo duties… Apollo's Fire are a wonderful antidote to too much British baroque. For all their technical strengths, sometimes it's hard not to long for just a little more abandon from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment or something a little less laboriously tasteful from the Academy of Ancient Music. The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra have fun with their material, obedient but never slavish to concerns of authenticity.”
ArtsDesk.com
“Apollo’s Fire were worthy, and equal, partners bringing a type of American bohemian chic which was a refreshing change from the more staid, often po-faced, British baroque bands... Led by exuberantly flame-haired Jeannette Sorrell, who directed standing at a raised harpsichord, they were flamboyant and fun. And boy, they can play too. René Schiffer and Steuart Pincombe combined for a rousing rendition of Vivaldi’s double cello concerto while Johanna Novom and the band’s leader Olivier Brault (if a bit of a dandy and a fabulous fiddler) excelled in Vivaldi’s A minor concerto for two violins.”
Birmingham Post
Performances
7 May 2014
Town Hall, Birmingham
8 May 2014
St John’s Smith Square, London
10 May 2014
Festspielhaus, Bregenz