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PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Noxwode are excited to be embarking on their next recording project of English trio sonatas by the brilliant but rarely performed composer Michael Festing. The album will explore the rich fusion of Handel-meets-France-meets-folk within Festing’s elaborate writing and will shine a light on intimate and domestic English 18th century chamber music that is still performed but rarely recorded. The disc will include some world premieres and will be comprised solely of works that have not been recorded before.

The repertoire will comprise Festing’s sonatas selected from various opuses, offering a programme that demonstrates his flair and changing style across many years - but which also provides an opportunity to present these trio sonatas in different instrument combinations. Festing was a virtuoso violinist, and his brother an oboist and flautist: as multi-instrumentalists we are keen to explore the different sound worlds and instrument combinations that Festing's works imply. Our motivation for this particular project is close to home: through a colleague, we have a link to the living Festing family who live in Northumbria today, and with whom we will meet and consult on the project. Following the recording, we aim to then explore Festing's London connections with Geminiani (his mentor), Thomas Arne (his pupil) and Handel (his colleague) in a CD tour, bringing performances to Northumbria and the Scottish borders.

Noxwode has kindly been offered the loan of Scotland’s oldest known Violin by John Grice (from Tim Wright Fine Violins) for this specific recording project; a copy of an English straight-top oboe top oboe by Stanesby Junior (a private loan from Leo Duarte); and the use of Handel Hendrix House as a rehearsal space, including use of their original Kirkman harpsichord. The project will last approximately a week which will include 3 rehearsal days and 3 recording days; our proposed dates are in January 2026.