BAROQUE KEYS (Event 2 – 2026 Summer Baroque Season) – Cape Town Concert Series collaboration

During 2026, the Cape Town Concert Series presents a season of concerts focused around its Steinway Grand Piano, which turns 65 this year and is considered one of the finest recital pianos in the country.

To set the scene for this piano-focused season of concerts, the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra’s Artistic Director, Erik Dippenaar, presents a solo recital that takes the audience on a journey through the history of the keyboard instruments that existed before the piano. Dippenaar will play several early keyboard instruments, including harpsichords in two different styles, an octave spinetto and a copy of a 16th-century regal. The repertoire ranges from the 1560s until the 1770s, including popular harpsichord works such as Handel’s Harmonious Blacksmith variations and Couperin’s Les Barricades Mystérieuses, but also lesser-known pieces that show off the variety of textures and colours of early keyboard instruments. Scroll down for the full programme.

Audiences will have the unique opportunity to explore the instruments on stage after the performance.

Do not miss the opportunity to experience this unique and varied recital!

BOOK HERE

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This is Event 2 in our 2026 Summer Baroque Season. Read more about the other events here:

Event 1 – Love in the Baroque (chamber recital) – Saturday, 7 February 2026, 18:00 – Parshuis (Historic Wine Cellar), La Motte, Franschhoek
Event 3 – Baroque Pleasures (orchestral concert with soloists) – Monday, 16 February 2026, 19:00 – St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

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Full concert programme:

François Couperin (1668–1733)
Les Barricades Mystérieuses from Second livre de pièces de clavecin (1717)

The Mulliner Book (ca. 1560), no 14, 15 and 13. British Museum, Ms. Add. 30513. Anonymous
La Doune Cella; La Shy Myze; La Bounette

Peter Phillips (ca. 1560–1628)
Amarilli di Julio Romano (1603) from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book

Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583–1643)
Aria detto Balletto from Il secondo libro di toccate, 1637

Dieterich Buxtehude (ca. 1637–1707)    
La Capricciosa – Partite diverse, BuxWV250, ca. 1690

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Lascia ch’io pianga, arranged by William Babell (1688–1723) from ‘Suits of the most Celebrated Lessons collected and fitted to the Harpsichord or Spinnet’ (1717)

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) 
Air (The Harmonious Blacksmith) from Harpsichord suite no. 5 in E major, HWV430 (1720)

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764) 
Allemande; Le Rappel des Oiseaux; Musette en Rondeau; Tembourin from Pièces de Clavecin avec une table pour les agrémens (1736)

James Hook (1746–1827)
Andante from Concerto in D major from Six Concertos for the Harpsichord or Forte-Piano, op 1 nr 5 (1771)

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The 2026 Summer Baroque Season is generously supported by the Rupert Musiekstigting.