Members of the OAE posing with instruments in nature

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Introduction

Askonas Holt holds a very special relationship with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment – the UK’s top period instrument ensemble. For over twenty years we have arranged tours with a great variety of artists, including Ian Bostridge, Sir András Schiff, Robin Ticciati, and Principal Artists Sir Simon Rattle and Iván Fischer.

In addition to the tours to Europe’s leading concert halls with Sir Simon Rattle, we have arranged performances and tours in Asia and Australasia, Japan, Korea and Taipei and with Iván Fischer to Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and Nicola Benedetti to the USA and Abu Dhabi.

After Covid, Askonas Holt toured the OAE with Sir András Schiff in France and brought the orchestra together with Ian Bostridge to Hamburg.

2025 and the 2025/26 season, which will mark the OAE's 40th anniversary, will see a variety of exciting touring projects to different parts of the world.

Tours

  • Feb 2023 - Feb 2023
    Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Hamburg

    Steven Devine (director) Ian Bostridge (tenor) Works by Handel and Muffat

  • Jun 2022 - Jun 2022
    Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris | Auditorium de Lyon

    Sir András Schiff (conductor/fortepiano) Programme: Beethoven Coriolan Overture, Op. 62, Haydn Symphony No. 103 in Eb flat major, Hob 1:103 ‘Drumroll’, Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 73 ‘The Emperor’

  • Nov 2019
    Lincoln Center, New York | Oberlin College, Oberlin

    Jonathan Cohen (director) Iestyn Davies, Katherine Watson & Rowan Pierce (soloists) Programme 1: Pergolesi Stabat Mater, P.77, Vivaldi Gloria in D major, RV 589 Programme 2: Pergolesi Stabat Mater, P.77, Albinoni Oboe Concerto No. 2 in D Minor Op. 9, Vivaldi Gloria in D major, RV 589

  • Jun 2019
    LG Arts Center, Seoul

    Rachel Podger (violin) Satoko Doi-Luck (harpsichord) Corelli Concerto Grosso in C minor, Op. 6 No. 3 Manfredini Concerto Grosso in G major, Op. 3 No. 7 Geminiani Concerto in G minor, Op. 3 No. 2 Bach Harpsichord Concerto in A major, BWV 1055 Vivaldi Four Seasons

  • Apr 2019
    Europe

    Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Choir of the Age of Enlightenment Sir Simon Rattle (conductor) Peter Sellars (director) Soloists: Camilla Tilling Christine Rice Mark Padmore Andrew Staples Roderick Williams Georg Nigl Programme St John Passion, BWV 245 Philharmonie, Luxembourg | Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg | Alte Oper, Frankfurt

  • Feb 2019
    Europe

    Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Magdalena Kožená (mezzo soprano) Giovanni Antonini (conductor) Programme MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G minor KV 550 I: Molto allegro GLUCK O del mio dolce ardor from Paride ed Elena GLUCK Dance of the Furies from Orphée et Eurydice MOZART Giunse alfin il momento… Al desio di chi t’adora from Le nozze di Figaro MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G minor KV 550 II: Andante HAYDN Recitativo: Berenice, che fai? From Scena di Berenice, Hob XXIVa MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G minor KV 550 III: Menuetto. Allegretto GLUCK Di questa cetra from Il Parnaso confuso MOZART Den perquesto istante solo from La clemenza di Tito MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G minor KV 550 IV: Finale. Allegro assai MOZART Parto, parto from La clemenza di Tito Zaryadye Hall, Moscow | İş Sanat Concert Hall, Istanbul | Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Athens | Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris | Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence

  • Feb 2018
    United States and Middle East

    Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Nicola Benedetti, (violin/director for concerto only) Michael Gurevich, (director (or symphony only) Programme BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4 in Bb major, Op. 60 BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 Segerstrom Hall, Costa Mesa | Granada Theatre, Santa Barbara | Paramount Theatre, Oakland | Kodak Hall, Rochester | Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

  • Apr 2016
    Europe

    Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Sir Simon Rattle (conductor) BRAHMS Tragic Overture, Op. 81, ROTT Scherzo from Symphony No. 1 in E major, BRUCKNER Symphony No. 6 in A major (WAB 106) Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Paris | Henry Le Beouf Hall, BOZAR, Brussels

  • Feb 2016 - Mar 2016
    Asia

    Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Ian Bostridge (tenor) Steven Devine (leader) Programme: TELEMANN, Suite in F for 2 horns and strings TWV 55 TELEMANN, Ich weiss, dass mein Erloser lebt from Cantata TWV1:873 TELEMANN, So Stehet ein Berg Gottes from Der Tod Jesu TWV 5:6 HANDEL, Concerto Grosso in E minor Op.6, No. 3 HANDEL, Scherza infida from Ariodante HANDEL, Love sounds th’alarm from Acis and Galatea HANDEL, Silete Venti HANDEL, Water Music selection from Suite No. 1 in F The Daejeon Arts Center, Daejeon, South Korea | Symphony Hall, Shanghai | National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing

  • May 2014
    Dublin

    Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Choir of the Enlightenment Sir Simon Rattle (conductor) Soloists: John Mark Ainsley Sally Matthews Peter Rose Programme: HAYDN The Creation National Concert Hall, Dublin

  • Jan 2013
    Europe

    Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Sir Simon Rattle (conductor) Programme: MOZART - Symphony No. 39 MOZART - Symphony No. 40 MOZART - Symphony No. 41, Jupiter Philharmonie, Cologne | Alte Oper, Frankfurt | Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg | Musikverein, Vienna | Palace of the Arts, Budapest