Vivaldi's Four Seasons with Europa Galante and Nardus Williams by Vivaldi, Purcell, Händel, Alkaen (2023/2023), Milton Court Concert Hall, London, United Kingdom

Rising star Nardus Williams and period-instrument ensemble Europa Galante enter a world of Baroque brilliance in a programme of music by Vivaldi, Handel and Purcell. A man of contradictions, Vivaldi was both an ordained priest with little interest in the Church, and a virtuoso violinist who loved showing off. Concertos such as the Four Seasons provided the perfect vehicle for his talents – but offer so much more than technical wizardry, each piece vividly conjuring up the changing seasons and the splendours of nature. Winner of the Rising Talent award at the 2022 International Opera Awards, British soprano Nardus Williams combines an exceptionally supple voice with acting flair, perfect for navigating the nuances of Purcell and Handel. Italian ensemble Europa Galante, directed by conductor-violinist Fabio Biondi, plays this repertoire with such freshness that the music sounds as though it could have been written yesterday.