London Obbligato Collective: 'From Gainsborough's Salon'
About
Painter Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) was a keen amateur musician, and his household was known for hosting musical gatherings. Gainsborough himself played the viola da gamba, while his daughters played instruments such as the harpsichord and theorbo. He painted several musicians, including Johann Sebastian Bach's son, Johann Christian (1735-1782), and another German composer, Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787), as well as Felice Giardini (1716-1796), an Italian composer, all of whom worked in London.
This lunchtime program performed by the London Obbligato Collective features music specifically designed for home performance, precisely the kind of music that would have been played in the Gainsborough household and includes a rarely-heard harpsichord trio by Valentino Nicolai.
London Obbligato Collective
London Obbligato Collective is a London-based, period-instrument chamber ensemble founded by harpsichordist Masumi Yamamoto in October 2023. The ensemble specialises in under-represented chamber music works featuring a written-out harpsichord part, where the harpsichord takes centre-stage, supported by beautifully complementary instruments.
In their debut season, the ensemble performed at the National Gallery, the Horniman Museum, Handel & Hendrix, and the National Centre for Early Music. They are currently preparing for their first commercial CD, partly supported by the Continuo Foundation, featuring some harpsichord trios kept at the British Library and never before recorded.
Musicians of the London Obbligato Collective regularly play with leading period-instrument groups, including the Gabrieli Consort & Players, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The English Concert, and the Academy of Ancient Music. With an ensemble size ranging from 2 to 4 musicians, they offer flexible instrumentation that highlights the rich, nuanced tones of the harpsichord across a diverse repertoire.
Sara Deborah, baroque violin
Carina Drury, baroque cello
Masumi Yamamoto, harpsichord
Lunchtime listen
London Obbligato Collective: 'From Gainsborough's Salon'
Free, drop-in session
Places are available on a first come, first served basis. This is an informal standing concert. A limited number of stools are available for those with access requirements.
Due to our revised security measures, you will need to allow more time for entry. Please view our General Admissions page for more information.