At the end of this week – on Saturday 27th April, to be precise – oboists and bassoonists from all over the U.K. and from parts of Europe will be gathering at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London for a very special occasion. On that date, 270 years ago, Handel’s ‘Musick for the Royal Fireworks ‘ received its first performance in Green Park, not all that far from RAM. It was performed by a large wind ensemble including 24 oboes and 12 bassoons – but this Saturday we have an even bigger group of players performing this wonderful music. I will be conducting – it may not be the most subtle of musical experiences, but it will certainly be impressive and exciting! If you happen to see this in time, do come along to the performance at 5.30pm, which is a free admission event promoted by the British Double Reed Society. Huge thanks to RAM for hosting this amazing event!
A musical fireworks celebration!
Published by Laurence Perkins
In outline... I’ve been passionate about music all my life, but it was a lucky accident that I started the bassoon as a teenager. This led to my life’s work which continues to this day, and my ambition is very much for the bassoon itself - for the instrument to have a wider audience and better appreciation. During my 40+ years as principal bassoonist in Manchester Camerata, I performed and recorded numerous solo works, as well as making several solo recordings for the Hyperion label. Another passion is my work with amateur musicians, which has led to coaching on courses throughout the U.K. and beyond. Teaching remains a high priority, including work at Conservatoire in Manchester (RNCM) and universities in York and Nottingham. Music is special, and live music has no parallel. View all posts by Laurence Perkins