Classical and Jazz: Latest News > November 04
Published: 04 November 2010
by SEBASTIAN TAYLOR
IT must surely be the most popular piece of ensemble string music ever composed: played in tune, out of tune, in time and out of time; by beginners and fiddling nonogenarians; by orchestras, quartets and rock groups; with or without a harpsichord or organ; at weddings, funerals and on endless recordings...
Yes, it’s none other than Pachelbel’s Canon – that famous, some might say infamous piece of baroque music composed in 1794 by Johann Pachelbel for the wedding of Johann Christoph Bach, oldest brother of Johann Sebastian.
The excellent Bach Players will be playing the piece at their concert on Saturday at St John’s Downshire Hill, Hampstead, when they play Canons and Cantatas by Pachelbel and Bach.
Also on Saturday is the premiere of the English National Opera’s new Don Giovanni at the Coliseum. It’s the first opera directed by Rufus Norris, award-winning director of such hits as Cabaret and Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Bass baritone Iain Paterson is the legendary sexaholic with Rebecca Evans and Sarah Tynan among his ever-lengthening list of paramours.
Sunday has the Barbican Trio playing at Conway Hall and Lang Lang playing with the LSO at the Barbican.
Another Barbican concert worth catching on Thursday will be Dawn Upshaw’s performance of Gyorgy Kurtag’s Kafka Fragments set for violin and soprano in a way that tests both vocal and instrumental agility.
Classy Kentish Town jazz pianist Dorian Ford and his trio are in action twice next week, playing at Map Café’s jazz & jam on Sunday afternoon and at The Woodman in Archway Road on Tuesday.