BF5 Bachfest Ensemble

Keyboard works by Rameau will be performed by Bachfest Ensemble harpsichordist Xiaowen Shang in the Ensemble’s final concert, which allows the French and Italian baroque styles to take centre stage. Francois Couperin’s great chamber music masterpiece Les Nations showcases the French, whilst the concert will end with a shift to the Italian style of Arcangelo Corelli.

Programme

Handel Sinfonia from Esther
Rameau Suite in G major from Nouvelles Suites de Pièces de Clavecin, RCT 6 (excerpts)
Couperin Les Nations: Quatrième order La Piémontoise
Telemann Fantasia No 1 in C minor & Fantasia No 3 in E minor for Viola de Gamba
Telemann Sonate Corellisante No 1 in F major TWV 42:F2
Corelli Trio sonata in G major Op 2 No 12

Bachfest Ensemble

Stephen Waarts violin
Tim Crawford violin
Noga Shaham viola
Adrian Brendel cello
Sergio Bucheli lute
Xiaowen Shang harpsichord

About the Bachfest Ensemble
I’m excited to introduce the specially-formed Bachfest Ensemble that will perform several times during Bath Bachfest 2026, allowing an opportunity for the audience to develop a deeper relationship with these very fine musicians.
Violinists Stephen Waarts and Tim Crawford are memorable past visitors to Bath Mozartfest while also specialising in Bach’s music; the young Berlin-based violist Noga Shaham has made a fantastic impression at the start of her career and has played regularly this season with leading orchestras including Berliner Philharmoniker; Sergio Bucheli and Xiaowen Shang are both in great demand as continuo players and they recently appeared together in a Nash Ensemble concert at London’s Wigmore Hall. Oboist Nicholas Daniel needs little introduction as one of the UK’s finest musicians, and I will be providing a bass line for the group with great pleasure!
- Adrian Brendel, Artistic Director