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The Valencia Baryton Project presents a rare concert format with 2 barytons and cello bringing nearly forgotten gems of Franz Joseph Haydn back to life. With legendary barytonist Jeremy Brooker joining the VBP, they are pleased to present a concert with 2 barytons - one of classical music's rarest instruments to be heard.Matthew Baker - Baryton
Jeremy Brooker - Baryton
Benjamin Birtle - Cello
Franz Joseph Haydn – Duo in D major, Hob. X:11 (8’)
I. Moderato
II. Menuet
III. Finale: Presto
John Pickup - Dragonslayer's Lament (3')
Franz Joseph Haydn – Duo in A major, Hob. XII:1 (12’)
I. Adagio
II. Allegro molto
III. Menuet
Franz Joseph Haydn – 12 Cassations for 2 Barytons and Basso (25’)
I. Andantino
II. Allegretto
III. Adagio cantabile
IV. Allegro di molto
V. Menuet
VI. Adagio
VII. Presto
VIII. Polonese
IX. Presto
X. Largo
XI. Menuet
XII. Presto
Originally from Sioux City, Iowa, Matthew Baker began his professional music career as a double bassist at the early age of 13 with the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, first as section and later as principal double bass.
Matt leads a diversified performance career, having achieved recognition worldwide for his work in classical, jazz, folk, and theatrical performance in over 20 countries on both the baryton and double bass. He has had critical acclaim from concerts and recordings in publications such as The Strad, Gramophone, The Times, Independent, and Bass World, among many others.
He first worked with Naxos Records first with the Elan Quintet in their highly lauded project of resurrecting and recording George Onslow’s string quintets. Now with the Valencia Baryton Project, Matt has, to critical acclaim, continued working with the world-class label to record its first 2 CDs of baryton works.
As a barytonist, Matt has embraced both the traditional repertoire and looked beyond to new frontiers of baryton music. He has incorporated the instrument into music as diverse as medieval music, Indian classical music as well as premiering a new genre of music with French jazz pianist Baptiste Bailly in what was reported to have been the first ever jazz baryton concert.
Beyond his work with the baryton, Matthew is the professor of double bass at Berklee College of Music Valencia and a member of the Orquesta de Palau de les Arts, the opera of Valencia.
He holds a Bachelor of Music from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, UK, and a Postgraduate Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music in London, UK.
Jeremy Brooker has been at the forefront of the contemporary revival of interest in the baryton, and has been widely praised for his mastery of self-accompanied baryton playing. He is one of only a handful of performers who have attempted to revive this lost art in modern times. He is a founder member of the International Baryton Society, and has published new editions of original music and various papers on aspects of the instrument's history.
Following a concert by the Hauschka Ensemble in Eisenstadt, in the very room where Haydn might have heard his baryton music performed for the first time, he was honoured by the presentation of a baryton built for Alfred Lessing, one of the great pioneers of the post-war years. This has allowed him to explore the 18th and 19th century repertoire for the instrument. A third instrument, a unique 3-manual baryton designed to play some of the 17th century repertoire, will be completed early next year.
In addition to performing original repertoire on appropriate instruments, Jeremy Brooker has inspired many composers to write new music for him. Works by Stephen Gibson and the distinguished British composer Stephen Dodgson are featured on the acclaimed CD Rare Birds. He recently gave the first performance of Honeymoon Sky, a work for baryton, sitar and strings, at the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, with members of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Benjamin Birtle started learning the cello at the age of 8 with Alexander Kok, carried on his studies at Chethams School of Music and subsequently won a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern School of Music. Early on, he was given the honor of performing the Walton cello concerto in the presence of Lady Walton which followed a repeat performance at the Bridgewater Hall with the Halle Orchestra and a tour around the UK.
As a soloist, Benjamin has given performances with several orchestras playing concertos, including the Dvorak cello concerto, the Haydn cello concertos, and the Elgar and Saint-Saens cello concertos.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Ascension Church, 134 Timbercroft Lane, Plumstead, SE18 2SG, 134 Timbercroft Lane, London, SE18 2SG, United Kingdom,London, United Kingdom, Bexley
