London – \’\’Paris: The Age of Enlightenment\” – 15 October 2014 – 20th Century Theatre – United Kingdom

Paris circa 1770: home to the brilliant philosopher, writer and chief editor of the Encyclopédie Denis Diderot ­– one of the most courageous advocates of a radical, godless Enlightenment. He and other like-minded intellectuals would meet at the salon of Baron d’Holbach to discuss how best to lead lives of passion and empathy, to indulge in fervent debates about opera, and to listen to chamber music – Diderot himself saw music as a direct route into people’s hearts and minds.
In this concert, historian Philipp Blom, in company with harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani and friends, will investigate Diderot’s close relationship with music, interspersing period-instrument performances of chamber works by Marais, Rebel, Rameau, Forqueray and C.P.E. Bach – compositions that resonated through his life – with readings from his letters, essays and novels.

Mahan Esfahani harpsichord
Kati Debretzeni violin
Richard Boothby viola da gamba
Illustrated talk by Philipp Blom