Fresh Horizons: St Martin in the Fields concert series online

Every week leading artists perform for the camera from the fine Trafalgar Square venue

St Martin in the Fields is a superb concert venue. Photo: Kevin Day
St Martin-in-the-Fields is one of the loveliest live music venues in London, a beautiful church with a generous acoustic that makes concerts really take off. And while audiences stay home for now, fine musicians continue to entertain online from the Trafalgar Square landmark.

A new, three-month long weekly concert series is entitled Fresh Horizons (Thurs 28 Jan to to Thur 29 April).

The launch concert (Thurs 28 Jan) takes as its theme the unfolding seasons to which we look forward at the start of the year. The London Mozart Players, with violinist Ruth Rogers, perform Piazzolla’s colourful Four Seasons of Buenos Aires followed by Four World Seasons. Its composer, Londoner Roxanna Panufnik, also introduces the concert.

Next come early music specialists Stile Antico (Thurs 4 Feb) with spiritual music by Josquin des Prez, Hieronymus Vinders and Jacquet de Mantua.

St Martin's Players let their hair down on Thurs 11 Feb with The Golden Age of Jazz. Up-tempo favourites include Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Shostakovich's Movements from Jazz Suite. Reduced orchestration arrangements are by Iain Farrington


Composer Roxanna Panufnik introduces Fresh Horizons on 28 Jan. Photo: Benjamin Ealovega

Stile Antico return on Thurs 18 Feb with a more sensuous programme of Earthly and Heavenly Delights. Items include William Byrd's This sweet and merry month and Huw Watkins's The Phoenix and the Turtle.

The London Mozart Players, with Jonian Ilias Kadesha (violin), play Britten's Simple Symphony and Beethoven's Violin Concerto (Thurs 25 Feb) before the return of Stile Antico, with Toward the Dawn (Thurs 4 Mar).

On Thurs 11 March the Academy of St Martin in the Fields play Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No 6, plus James Macmillan's Untold and Brahms's Serenade.

Pianist Peter Donohoe gives a fine recital featuring Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Grieg and others in one of the most attractive programmes of the season (Thurs 18 March).

The Piatti Quartet celebrates 10 years since winning the St Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Music Competition with music by Purcell and Beethoven, and Dvořák's String Quartet No12, the 'American'.

On Maundy Thursday, the tradition of performing sacred and contemplative music at St Martin's continues with Stainer's moving and much-loved Crucifixion performed by the London Mozart Players (Thurs 1 April).


Chineke! players close the season on Thurs 29 April. Photo: Eric Richmond

The sacred theme continues after the Easter weekend, with St Martin’s Voices and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, performing Handel's great Messiah. Visuals are created by Nina Dunn Studio, projecting images on to the modern east window of the church.

The Gesualdo Six sing Gibbons, Byrd and others (Thurs 15 April) as the season draws to a close. Then the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, under its new conductor, John Butt, perform Locke's The Tempest, Purcell's Suite from The Fairy Queen, Handel's Concerto Grosso in B flat major, Op. 3, No. 1 and a new piece by Errollyn Wallen (Thurs 22 April).

Fresh Horizons comes to a big finish on Thursday 29 April when the vibrant Chineke! Chamber Ensemble perform Florence B Price's Two Folksongs in CounterpointDrink to me with thine own eyes; Shortnin’ Bread and Schubert's Piano Quintet in A, D 667, the 'Trout'.

With great variety in both content and musical forces, Fresh Horizons may be just the refreshment we need as we mark time until the spring. And the purchase of single tickets or season subscriptions helps keep music live.

All Fresh Horizons concerts start at 7:30PM and are available for 30 days. Click here for access
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What Fresh Horizons: St Martin in the Fields concert series online
Where Online | MAP
When 28 Jan 21 – 29 Apr 21, Live concerts streamed to your home on subscription
Price £10
Website Click here for more information and booking