^{BY ASHUTOSH KHANDEKAR | FIRST PUBLISHED 9 JULY 2025}

Nick Pritchard is establishing himself as one of the leading tenors of his generation, excelling in music of the Baroque era and gaining a reputation as one of the premier Bach Evangelists of our day. We asked Nick for his choice of forthcoming Early & Baroque Music events listed on Continuo Connect.

One thing that caught my eye on Continuo Connect’s What's On page is the Academy of Ancient Music programme, Concerto Heaven, featuring Bach’s A minor and E major Violin Concertos and, most interestingly, a harpsichord concerto that was apparently originally written for violin. The AAM is always worth hearing – they are such an amazing group of musicians.

York Early Music Festival, Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York University, 11 July 2025

Vache Baroque is staging its production of Charpentier’s La descente d’Orphée aux enfers at the Buxton International Festival this summer. I performed this opera for the first time in February this year with La Nuova Musica in Wigmore Hall, and it’s a wonderful piece. It’s something of a bugbear of mine that French Baroque doesn’t get performed as often as it should in the UK, and I’m so glad when I find staged productions of this incredible music. Vache is fielding a fantastic young cast.

Buxton International Festival, Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, 14, 20 & 24 July 2025

Another exciting programme coming up is an evening of music with Kati Debretzeni (violin), Alma Nuñez Debretzeni (recorder), James Johnstone (harpsichord), and Sebastian Comberti (cello). It’s at the Old Sessions House as part of the Islington Festival Bach and Beyond series. The programme looks absolutely delicious! Kati and James are friends, and they are among the best musicians around. They’re performing music by Bach, Handel, Rossi, Telemann, and Roxanna Panufnik, which is fascinating. Honestly, they’re as good as it gets, so this recital will be a treat!

Bach and Beyond, The Old Sessions House, Islington, London, 18 July 2025

Harpsichordist Jean Rondeau will be performing the Goldberg Variations as part of the Back2Bach Festival in the Peckham Multi-Storey Car Park in south London. I absolutely love his playing—he’s such an inspiring musician. And, despite having lived near Peckham for several years, I’ve never actually been to a concert in the Multi-Storey Car Park. I still have a vivid recollection of András Schiff performing the Goldberg Variations at the Royal Albert Hall ten years ago. Hearing such intimate chamber music in that vast space was something quite special, so I can imagine the same sort of striking contrast at what is bound to be a really atmospheric performance in Peckham!

JS Bach: Goldberg Variations, Peckham Multi-Storey Car Park, London, 7 September 2025

For full concert listings and to find an Early & Baroque Music event near you, head to our What's On page.