"Tonight, I once again witnessed a legend at the Shanghai Concert Hall," well-known music critic Li Yanhuan said of the wonderful performances of ancient music master Trevor Pinnock, flute superstar Emmanuelle Pahud and violin master Jonathan Manson at the Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall concert on the evening of March 13. Eight years ago, he unfortunately missed Shanghai. Eight years later, Trevor Pinnock, the legendary pioneer in the ancient music world and harpsichord master, finally made his Shanghai debut at the age of 80.
On March 13, this baroque music lineup, which can be called a "ceiling" level, gathered at the Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall to reproduce the pure original sounds of Bach and Telemann. This performance was also the only stop in mainland China on the Asian tour of the three masters. It was sold out soon after it went on sale, and even the extra seats were sold out quickly after it was opened. The enthusiasm of the market and the audience also demonstrated Shanghai music fans' ultimate desire for high-quality ancient music.
In this concert, Bach's classic works occupy a central position. The three masters will each present a weighty solo work: Pinnock will present Bach's pinnacle work for the harpsichord, "Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D Minor" (BWV). 903), with its improvisational fantasy style and rigorous fugue structure, the work fully demonstrates the timbral charm and harmonic tension of the harpsichord; Manson brought "Cello Unaccompanied Suite No. 1 in G Major" (BWV 1007) to showcase the profound structure of Bach's works. Pahud's solo performance of Telemann's "Fantasia No. 10 in F-sharp minor" (TWV 40:11) was restrained and intimate. It perfectly echoed Bach's works and enriched the musical expression of the entire concert.
The three masters shared their delicate understanding of their music before the performance. "When I'm on stage, I listen to what the other two players are playing, which is always a pleasure and always a challenge," Pinnock responded to the sparks of their musical collaboration. "For the two sonatas in the performance, Bach only wrote the bass part, and the chords and ornaments during the performance have to be improvised." Cellist Manson almost played Baroque instruments on the spot. "Master Class": Violins that perform Baroque music are played on gut strings. Gut strings were used until the middle of the 20th century. These metal strings are only now available. Gut strings have a very warm and bright tone. Because the instrument technology is more primitive, it also has very high requirements for this technology, so the intonation and string control need to be carefully adjusted. Although it may not be perfect, the beauty of it makes him satisfied. Pahud's ideas are more modern. His flute is a repurchased instrument, and its structure is slightly different from the Baroque recorder, but its sound structure is also adapted to the ancient music of the past.
Although Pinnock performs on stage at the age of 80, Pinnock remains in good spirits. What is the secret? He said: "Musicians are like athletes, they need to keep their fingers and brain flexible, so I still insist on practicing and practice a lot every day."
Trevor Pinnock temporarily canceled his trip to China in 2018 due to health reasons, leaving countless classical music fans with regrets. Eight years later, he finally fulfilled his promise to Shanghai and made his Shanghai debut at the age of 80. Although he has experienced countless performances in the world's top concert halls, he is still amazed by the beauty of the Shanghai Concert Hall. Talking about the collaboration with Emmanuelle Pahud and Jonathan Manson, he said: "Every performance is so special, every time is a new journey, and every time is full of freshness. I enjoy playing Bach every time. I always feel that the music is beating alive, as if it was just composed this morning."
As a "pioneer" of the ancient music revival movement, Pinnock founded the British Ensemble half a century ago, setting off a wave of "Historically Informed Performance" (HIP), which completely changed the classical music world's understanding of early music; his recorded Bach works are even regarded as "models of ancient music". In 2023, DG Records released a 100-CD 50th anniversary commemorative set for him, which has an influence that spans the ages. Today, the British Ensemble is a benchmark in the world of ancient music. In 2023, the British Ensemble landed at the Shanghai Concert Hall and brought the Asian premiere of the concert version of Handel's opera "Rodelinda", which caused a sensation in Shanghai; in 2025, the British Ensemble returned again to present the Shanghai premiere of "Rinaldo", the foundation work of Handel's opera. Within two years, the British Ensemble’s two blockbuster concerts were presented one after another, setting a new peak in the Shanghai Concert Hall’s “only one stop” reputation for ancient music.
The three artists are all top authorities in their respective fields, and their powerful combination creates a top-notch performance lineup. Emmanuelle Pahud was appointed principal flutist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra during the Abbado era at the age of 22, and has held this position ever since; Jonathan Manson served as principal cello of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra for ten years, recording 150 Bach oratorios with the orchestra, and recorded Vivaldi's Double Cello Concerto with Yo-Yo Ma. As one of the founders of the Viol Fantasy Ensemble, he won the Gramophone Award three times. What's more worth mentioning is that Jonathan Manson and Trevor Pinnock have been golden partners for many years. The "Complete Bach Violin and Harpsichord Sonatas" jointly recorded by the two has been widely praised. This tacit understanding that does not require running in will make the live performance more smooth and moving.
Although it was his first time meeting Shanghai, Pinnock had already experienced a lot of Chinese specialties. What made him even more happy was: "Although you can see the elevated road next to it, the green environment around the concert hall is very good – the modernization of the city and the preservation of historical buildings form a sharp and enjoyable contrast."
Pahud found that Shanghai is developing rapidly. "I have visited Shanghai many times in the past twenty years, and I have to say that I am amazed by the development here every time. In particular, this time I was pleasantly surprised to find that the historical buildings on the (Shanghai Conservatory of Music) campus have been renovated and opened to the public, and have become a place for people to gather and exchange ideas. Shanghai is a charming place, and every time I explore this city, I have new fun."
