Baroquebusters
Julia Bullock brings the vocal fireworks to a night with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment celebrating the greatest hits of the 18th century.
A Baroque-tastic exploration of why the masterpieces of the time became so popular and remain so today.
Which H composed the Music for the Royal Fireworks?
Which B composed the Brandenburg Concertos?
Which V composed The Four Seasons?
You might already know the answers to these trivia questions, but if you don’t, you almost certainly know the tunes.
How did it come to be this way? Why are these tunes still everywhere today – from ringtones to soundtracks? And… are they overrated?*
Baroquebusters is a fun way to get to know these classics as singer Julia Bullock and the musicians of the OAE guide you through why they love this music. Expect firecracker performances and earworms!
Presented from the stage, music to be performed includes ‘Spring’ from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.3, Pachelbel’s Canon, ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’ and Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel, plus music from operas and songs by Lully, Purcell, Rameau and Strozzi.
*no, obviously we don’t think they are overrated.
Performers
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Julia Bullock soprano
Repertoire
Handel: Overture from Music for the Royal Fireworks; Verdi prati from Alcina
Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in E, Op.8 No.1 (Spring)
Bach: Sheep May Safely Graze from Cantata No.208
Handel: La Paix (3rd movement) from Music for the Royal Fireworks; Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon; Da tempeste from Giulio Cesare
Interval
Strozzi: Che si può fare
Lully: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs from Le bourgeois gentilhomme
Purcell: If love's a sweet passion from The Fairy Queen
Rameau: Danse du grand calumet de la paix (Danse des sauvages) from Les Indes galantes
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G
Handel: Aria, Let the Bright Seraphim from Samson
Pachelbel: Canon in D
Handel: La Réjouissance from Music for the Royal Fireworks
Need to know
For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.