BBC Proms 2020: Nicola Benedetti and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Two fabulous violinists unite tonight: Nicola Benedetti, whose star has been in the ascendant ever since she won BBC Young Musician 16 years ago, and Alina Ibragimova, who is no stranger to the Albert Hall and was utterly entrancing five years ago when she held a solo spot across two nights playing Bach’s complete Sonatas and Partitas for violin.

In a special event called Playing Doubles, they explore the baroque concerto with period-instrument ensemble, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE), under conductor Jonathan Cohen. They’ll play works for two violins by Vivaldi rarely or never heard before at the Proms, as well as Bach’s very popular Concerto in D minor.

Two of the OAE’s oboists, Katharina Spreckelsen and Alexandra Bellamy, come to the fore for Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor for two oboes. We’ll also hear concerti grossi by Handel and by Charles Avison, an obscure baroque composer who hailed from Newcastle and only now, 250 years after he died, is getting his first Proms airing.