The Baroque Ménagerie – an exploration of animal and bird life in music from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Creatures in music vary from the literal to symbolic & they can also serve as moral inspiration for humanity. Whether it’s the recognisable sound of the cuckoo or the lesson in cunning from the fox, animals have inspired musicians throughout the centuries. From Biber’s frogs through Clérambault’s oysters to Telemann’s canary, these vocal and instrumental pieces have their roots in the animal kingdom. Also featuring music by Purcell, Monteverdi, Biber and Gibbons. The members of Belesama (Au Plaisir des Dames) have between them a wealth of experience in the worlds of renaissance, baroque & classical repertoire, performing and teaching throughout the UK, Europe and beyond. Their carefully themed programmes explore music from the mediaeval to the late baroque and they specialise in arranging multi-voice pieces for smaller forces, thus accessing a wide range of musical styles & cultures.