24 Violons at Cadogan Hall

Thursday 26 July 2012

Sir Roger Norrington conducted the RCM Baroque Orchestra at a spectacular concert at Cadogan Hall on Saturday 28 July as part of the BBC Proms.

For this special project, the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles painstakingly recreated these early instruments that featured in Louis XIV’s 24 Violins du Roi – the world’s first orchestra. Throughout June, the RCM Baroque Orchestra toured France performing at the Palace of Versailles, Midsummer Festival and Festival de Radio before arriving in London on Saturday for their final concert at the prestigious Cadogan Hall.

In a review from the Guardian, Tim Ashley commented: "The performances were exquisite. Bliss from start to finish."

Andrew Morris, from Classical Source, called it: “A fascinating history lesson [...] with such an immaculately drilled and youthfully stylish reincarnation of a very old orchestra at his disposal".

Alexandra Coghlan, from The Arts Desk, wrote: "Norrington has just the right amount of sardonic humour and throwaway brilliance for this music, and under his direction the orchestra generated a performance of distinctively Gallic hauteur (and just a little bit of silliness)."

See a selection of images from the BBC Proms and Palace of Versailles on our dedicated historical performance webpage. You can also view RCM musicians meeting their instruments for the first time on our Facebook page