I could quickly and easily run out of adjectives to describe this concert…it was that good.
Our reluctance to go to Thursday evening concerts at that time (we were both still working full pelt) was mitigated by the promise of baroque music with a jazzy feel.
Also, we were both keen to see Philippe Jaroussky; he had impressed us so much on previous sightings/hearings.
Here is a link to the concert programme for the night.
It was mostly Purcell music from L’Arpeggiata’s then latest album Music For A While.
We ran into Eric Rhode that night, who (like some of the critics,, it turned out) wasn’t so keen on Music For A While. But Eric told us that L’Arpeggiata’s album Los Pajaros Perdidos was exceptional, so I procured both albums…
…and was so pleased with them that I ended up pretty much buying L’Arpeggiata’s back catalogue, all of which sounds delightful and we still listen to those albums a lot – especially Los Pajaros Perdidos, which, unlike the album Music For A While, is all about Philippe Jaroussky, who was on top form for that album.
Here is a short teaser vid which gives you a reasonable idea of the Music For A While album:
As for that concert in July 2014, it truly was a special evening at the Wigmore Hall for me and Janie.