An exhilarating musical journey, where West African and European traditions call out to each other.

Join Manchester Collective’s string ensemble, percussionist extraordinaire Sidiki Dembélé and his band for folksong and storytelling from the Ivory Coast, Mali and Senegal. Born out of his family’s griot tradition of West African oral history and music, Sidiki’s work ‘Teriya’ (‘friendship’ in Bambara) celebrates where our roots intertwine.

Our destination is the musical meeting point between cultures. Guiding us there and directing from the violin is Rakhi Singh. Hear the old anew with her bold reimaginings of classical and folk tunes, baroque mixed with African percussion, and plenty of improvisational magic along the way.

EPSG:4326

Manchester Collective and Sidiki Dembélé: Constellations

Royal Northern College of Music

Since its founding, the Ensemble Théodora has explored the ties between European nations at the turn of the 18th century. This program celebrates the creativity of European composers who settled in London in the 17th and early 18th centuries.

A Tour of Europe in the 18th Century

Église Saint-Christophe

Since its founding, the Ensemble Théodora has explored the connections between European nations at the turn of the eighteenth century. This program celebrates the creativity of European composers who settled in London in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.

A Tour of Eighteenth-Century Europe

Église Saint-Bernard

Join us for an enchanting evening of baroque music at Paxton House with the performance of "Music at Paxton: Ensemble Hesperi" on the 23rd of July, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. This unique concert will take place in the stunning Picture Gallery, offering a perfect backdrop for an immersive musical journey.

Ensemble Hesperi, a dynamic and innovative London-based period ensemble, is renowned for their lively and enticing performances that bring the early 1700s London music scene to life. The concert will feature a rich program including Handel Trio Sonatas in F major and B minor, Playford's "Grimstock" and "Bobbing Joe" from The English Dancing Master, Purcell's Sonatas of Three Parts, No.1 in G minor, Telemann Trio Sonata in G minor, and Oswald's Sonata on Scots Tunes "Airs for Autumn", among others. The ensemble will also perform additional music by Blow, Sammartini, Elisabetta de Gambarini, and Robert Bremner, reflecting the craze for Scottish music that swept the English capital.

The evening promises to be a celebration of baroque music, showcasing rarely-heard pieces and forgotten stories through original research and joyful collaborations. The concert duration is 1 hour and 40 minutes, with tickets priced at £25 and concessions available at £16. 

Following the performance, attendees are invited to stay for a short informal Q&A session with the artists, providing a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the music, the period, and the ensemble's innovative approach to early music.

Don't miss this captivating evening of music and history at Paxton House. Book your tickets now and add a touch of baroque elegance to your summer.

Music at Paxton: Ensemble Hesperi

Paxton House

The morning we were shepherds

Køge Town Hall

Vocal ensemble Siglo de Oro combine with instrumentalists from the Spinacino Consort in a programme that brings to life the traditional twelve days of Christmas through a lively combination of 17th century ballads, broadsides, dances and carols.

John Playford

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 19, 2026

Hey for Christmas! · Sinfonia Smith Square

Past events

Oct 9, 2026

Manchester Collective and Sidiki Dembélé: Constellations · Royal Northern College of Music

Jul 9, 2026

A Tour of Europe in the 18th Century · Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier

About

John Playford hasn't added a bio