London Obbligato Collective

The London Obbligato Collective is a London-based period-instrument chamber ensemble founded by harpsichordist Masumi Yamamoto in 2023. Specialising in under-represented chamber music repertoire featuring the harpsichord, the ensemble explores works with fully written-out keyboard parts, placing the instrument at the heart of musical dialogue with other period instruments.

The ensemble is particularly interested in music from Britain during the second half of the eighteenth century, when domestic music-making flourished in homes, salons, and other intimate settings. This interest has led to collaborations with galleries and museums, creating programmes directly inspired by art and historical contexts.

Since its formation, the London Obbligato Collective has performed at venues including the National Gallery, the Holburne Museum, the Horniman Museum, Handel Hendrix House, the National Centre for Early Music in York, and venues across Hampshire and Devon. Recent projects include a tour of southern England with its From Gainsborough’s Salon programme. The ensemble is currently preparing its first commercial recording with support from the Continuo Foundation and the Orbis Pictus Foundation.

The musicians of the London Obbligato Collective regularly perform with leading period-instrument ensembles, including the Gabrieli Consort & Players, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The English Concert, and the Academy of Ancient Music. With a flexible line-up ranging from two to four musicians, the ensemble brings to life a rich and varied repertoire, showcasing the harpsichord's expressive possibilities in chamber music from the eighteenth century and beyond.

London Obbligato Collective core members:
Sara Deborah Timossi baroque violin
Carina Drury baroque cello
Masumi Yamamoto harpsichord