CONCERTS in the West’s April series brings Ensemble Augelletti, specialists in the music of the 17th and 18th centuries, to Bridport Arts Centre for the usual coffee-time recital at 11.30am on Friday 10th April, with a 7.30pm concert at Ilminster Arts Centre, and Crewkerne Dance House on Saturday 11th at 7.30pm

Founded in 2019, the ensemble – Olwen Foulkes, recorders, Ellen Bundy, violin, Carina Drury, cello, Toby Carr, lute, and Benedict Williams, harpsichord – specialises in baroque chamber music, creating engaging programmes that tell the everyday stories of people living in the 17th and 18th centuries.

They are known for compelling performances that demonstrate an “equal capacity for elegant pathos and rip-roaring technical dexterity” (The Arts Desk, 2024) and are often praised for their profound understanding of their innovative repertoire.

Ensemble Augelletti are a BBC New Generation Baroque Ensemble (2023-25) and City Music Foundation Artists (2024-26). They perform regularly on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune and Early Music and in arts festivals across the UK including York, London, Brighton, Beverley Early Music festivals.

They were finalists of the York International Young Artist Competition and released their debut CD recording, entitled The Library of a Prussian Princess, on Barn Cottage Records in 2022. Their year-long digital project, Pick a Card, explored historical playing cards from the British Museum’s collection.

The programme for their Concerts in the West series is Jewels that Brightly Burn. Describing Bach’s students as “jewels that brightly burn,” Telemann championed Bach’s skill in arranging music to inspire a new generation of musicians as they performed “under the orange tree,” in Leipzig. This programme tells the story of Bach’s students as they became “jewels” and includes arrangements of his joyous instrumental music alongside Telemann’s stunning Paris quartets and suites by Pisendel.