The Bate Collective side-by-side with Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu

Friday 19 May 2023, 1.15pm
Holywell Music Room

Free to attend, register via Eventbrite.

Christoph Graupner (1683-1760) – Overture in F for 3 chalumeaux, flute and strings, GWV 449

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764) – Fragments : airs and dances from Les Fêtes d’Hébé and Anacréon (1754)

The Bate Collective is a new ensemble specialising in period practice performance attached to the Oxford University’s Faculty of Music and directed by Dr Jonathan Williams. Founded by Jonathan this year in close consultation with Rosalind Ventris and Professor Martyn Harry. the Bate Collective is a development of the student-led group, The Bate Players, that was founded by James Orrell in 2015 and went on to work with Instruments of Time and Truth in 2018. 

The Bate Collective’s primary focus is on instrumental music of the 17th and 18th centuries, with its annual projects drawing both on the specialism available at the Faculty of Music as well as the many instruments from the Bate Collection. Today’s lunchtime concert with members of Le Concert de l”Hostel Dieu is the second of this year’s projects, following the Bate Collection’s debut concert at the Keble Early Music Festival under Jonathan’s direction in February, with a programme of Cozzolani, Aleotti, Bach and Rameau.

The Concert de l’Hostel Dieu consists of a solo vocal ensemble and an orchestra playing on period instruments, who give about sixty concerts annually, which are mainly devoted to the baroque vocal repertoire. They are frequently invited to perform at international festivals and venues. The performances of the Concert de l’Hostel Dieu are always marked by a modern and dynamic approach to the baroque repertoire. Many of them involve different artistic disciplines. Innovative forms are developed and interfaces are created between oral traditions and ‘classical’ repertoire. In short, their artistic choices are bold and original. As well as creating and performing, the Concert de l’Hostel Dieu also supports young artists at the beginning of their careers and endeavors both to appeal to younger audiences, and to perform in outlying areas, where access to cultural events are often limited.

Supported by the John Fell Fund and Rameau Project.