Consoling faith, tempestuous passion and fatal betrayal – it’s all in our summer concert, held in the beautiful surroundings of Bradford’s Ukrainian Cultural Centre.  Diderich Buxtehude was a giant of the early Baroque – the young Bach walked over 200 miles to hear him direct his famous concerts in Lubeck.  His cantata Alles was ihr tut is wonderfully optimistic, combining energetic choruses with elegant solos and beautiful instrumental movements.  Meanwhile in Venice, Barbara Strozzi was writing her many sets of madrigals – we present a selection of this brilliant music, sung by soloists and the choir.  Telling the story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, and her ultimate betrayal by the Trojan hero Aeneas, Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas is a monument of Baroque music – fast paced, full of vivid characterisation, musical variety, and of course ending with the timeless beauty of Dido’s Lament.

Alles was ihr tut BuxWV4 – Diderich Buxtehude

Madrigals – Barbara Strozzi

Dido and Aeneas – Henry Purcell