Early Music by Candlelight Christmas Series.

11-21 Dec 2005. Charivari Agreable, Oxfords premier period instrument ensemble, presents a series of candle-lit Early Music concerts for the festive season in the magnificent gothic chapel at Exeter College. The series begins with a matinee performance at 17.00 entitled Salon et Sonnerie, with music by Marais, Forqueray and Rameau featuring bass viol, pardessus viol and harpsichord. On 14 Dec, one of the founder members of Charivari Agreable, Susanne Heinrich, on the treble and bass viol performs music by Abel, Corkine, Hume and Sumarte in the solo concert A Puncks Delight. Countertenor duets from 17th-century England feature in the concert on 16 Dec with music by Purcell, Blow, Draghi and Finger. The Whisperings of Winter on 19 Dec includes music by Bach, Piazzolla and Villa-Lobos performed by Heinrich on pardessus and bass viols and another Charivari Agreable founder member, Kah-Ming Ng, on harpsichord and chamber organ. In the final concert of the series on 21 Dec, entitled Noels & Pastorales, the ensemble plays Christmas music by Manfredini, Heinichen, Fux and Valentini as well as noels and trio sonatas by Vivaldi, Telemann and Daquin. Admission 12-10 on the door. Concerts begin at 19.30.