Concerti Curiosi

"The highlight is Pietro Domenico Paradies' aptly-titled "A Favourite Concerto", a delightful harpsichord piece that affords the ensemble's director Kah-Ming Ng full rein to display his keyboard prowess. Soloist Jamie Savan is similarly dazzling on the two cornett concerti"
(The Independent)

"Each of the seven works here - many by names unfamiliar even to those who frequently graze baroque fields - is beautifully crafted and ear-teasing."
(Sunday Times)

"As its name suggests, this is a real cabinet of curiosities - rarely heard but charming concerti by the smaller stars of the baroque firmament, played with energy and flair...Paradies' "A Favourite Concerto" provides a fine vehicle for director Kah-Ming Ng to impress at the harpsichord, but it is Jamie Savan's cool, straight tone on the cornett that stands out"
(The Observer)

"no one could fault this ensemble for taste or stylishness. The recorded sound mixes bloom and transparency perfectly, and if Charivari prefer to emphasise the intimacy of their playing at the expense of sonic energy, that presumably is their choice...lovingly unearthed by this enterprising little orchestra [these works] do indeed provide much to interest the curious-at-heart."
(Gramophone)

"The solo violin part [in the Pepusch] is played with passion and drive by Persephone Gibbs. The Croft Sonata is more old-fashioned...The violinists of Charivari really excel in this small but beautifully crafted work...Another excellent soloist is the oboist Geoffrey Coates, whose warm, flexible tone has a lovely burnished quality in the very Vivaldian concerto by Reichenauer."
(International Record Review)

Thus begins Kah-Ming Ng's introduction to this collection of works from the 18th century. Although none of the composers featured may be familiar, each work has been picked for it's fine technical skill and illuminating sound, taking inspiration from the 18th century definition of 'curious' as being 'rare, excellent and fine'.

Charivari Agréable have established themselves as one of the UKs leading early music ensembles - in 2010 they collaborated with The King's Singers on an album of Pachelbel's Vespers, currently the best-selling album on Signum, after it featured heavily on Radio 3.