All-star cast for Bach's Magnificat

Bojan Čičic [photo Nick Rutter]

Leader of The Academy of Ancient Music, Bojan Čičic, takes part in our performance of Bach's Christmas Magnificat on Saturday 6th December, with Steven Devine directing from the harpsichord.

Last few tickets available here.

Watch Bojan in action in this beautiful video.

Also taking part:

• Kate Semmens, soprano
• Diana Moore, mezzo
• Archie Inns, tenor
• Trevor Eliot Bowes, bass

"Bojan Čičić's interpretations are both visceral and thoughtful, underpinned by a magisterial virtuosity" ... BBC Music Magazine

"Čičic has mastered the illusion of musician as conduit - the music just seems to pour out of him, and his playing conveys that he has to do very little to make it work so well. Excellent and always stylish ornamentation is the most obvious evidence of this - there's not even the trace of wet ink in these embellishments: rather, they are thrown out as corporeal gestures - a flick of the hair here, a shrug of the shoulders there - and it's enviously spontaneous and carefree …" Gromophone

"Diana Moore is a singer to cherish, with a genuine contralto tone not often heard outside recordings of Ferrier or Janet Baker." The Times

[Diana Moore] "A mixture of intelligence with musicianship and beauty of tone and perfect restraint that highlights the emotional depth of each moment." The Guardian

Kate Semmens sings widely as a soloist and has also sung with some of the most eminent choirs and consorts, including the Monteverdi Choir, Dunedin Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Eric Whitacre Singers. She has been closely involved with education projects working with The Orchestra of Age of Enlightenment and is increasingly known for her teaching and coaching skills.

Archie Inns' roles include Alfred in Die Fledermaus (WOCO), Mopsa & Phoebus in The Fairy Queen (Gabrieli Consort), and other Purcell roles, with appearances as an Emerging Artist for Westminster Opera Company, Vache Baroque and as an Associate Artist with Oxford Opera.

Trevor Eliot Bowes' recent opera performances have included Basilio/ Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Longborough Festival Opera, Antonio/The Marriage of Figaro at ENO, Haydn's Paukenmesse with the LPO and Vladimir Jurowski, Bartolo/Le Nozze di Figaro with The Mozartists, Collatinus/The Rape of Lucretia. Father Trulove/The Rake's Progress, Seneca/L'incoronazione di Poppea, Colline/La Boheme with English Touring Opera, Alidoro/La Cenerentola with Nevill Holt Opera, Sergeant of Police/The Pirates of Penzance with Opera Holland Park, and Father Trulove/The Rake's Progress with the Munich Philharmonic.

Steven Devine is renowned as a keyboard player specialising historic instruments and a Music Director who has worked with many of the leading musicians and groups around the world.  His repertoire encompasses a huge variety of music from the 15th century to the present day.  He is Principal Keyboard Player for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) and Director of their hugely successful “Bach, the Universe and Everything” series. In addition he is Artistic Advisor of The English Haydn Festival and Music Director of New Chamber Opera, Oxford.  Recent releases have included Bach Harpsichord Concertos with the OAE (Res10318), the complete harpsichord music of Bach’s favourite student, Johann Ludwig Krebs and Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, Books 1 and 2.  Steven teaches harpsichord, fortepiano and continuo at the Royal Academy of Music and is Early Keyboard Consultant to the Royal Welsh and Royal Birmingham Conservatoires.