Spring 2026 Recording Project
The Vauxhall Band has the amazing opportunity to record an album with the renowned Deux-Elles label. The music curated is inspired by Artistic Director Laura Piras’s research on Bohemian basset horn players Franz Dworschack, Anton David and Vincent Springer, and their connections to composers in Vienna in the 1780s, at the height of the basset horn’s popularity there.
The trio arrived in London in 1791 and performed over 40 times at Vauxhall Gardens as concerto soloists. They also performed at the famous Haydn Salomon Concerts. Before arriving in London the trio toured Europe for 10 years and met Mozart in Vienna, who wrote music for them. Surprisingly, the trio are little known today, but were pioneers of the newly-invented basset horn and highly-esteemed performers.
Our recording, titled The Vauxhall Band: Basset Horn Trio, is a celebration of the basset horn and the first ever to show a true picture of basset horn and clarinet music (and the life of a freelance player!) in the 18th century. It will showcase the basset horn’s versatility, encompassing its appearances in concertos, and orchestral and chamber music.
Artists
We’re delighted to announce that The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio, Katherine Spencer, Sarah Thurlow and Fiona Mitchell, will be joined by sopranos Grace Davidson and Julia Doyle, and bass baritone Edward Grint to perform wonderful chamber music for voices and basset horns/clarinets by Mozart. Horns Richard Bayliss and Martin Lawrence will join for a nocturne by Giovanni Paisiello. Bassoonist Chris Rawley will perform in Franz Anton Hoffmeister’s Divertimento, a fantastic, unknown work which we’re looking forward to introducing. In addition, our trio will record one of Mozart’s glorious divertimenti for basset horn trio.
Violinist Matthew Truscott will direct the orchestra for Mozart’s solemn, beautiful Maurerische Trauermusik (which includes three basset horns and a clarinet) and Druschetzky’s Concerto for Three Basset Horns, with its lively Bohemian folk influences. The recording will be produced by Andrew Storey, Principal 2nd Violin of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
In addition, we will be performing music from the project in a community outreach visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor care home in Vauxhall in February to brighten the residents’ day.
Support Our Project
This project is generously supported by grant awards from:
Angel Early Music
Continuo Foundation
The Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain
The Golsoncott Foundation
The Laurence Modiano Charitable Trust
Vauxhall One (supporting our care home concert)
And by donations from The Vauxhall Band’s Friends and Supporters, including:
Anza Clarke
Laura Piras
Linda and Dave Scragg
Professor Ellen Solomon
Those who’d like to remain anonymous
In addition, we are very grateful to Staybridge Suites, Vauxhall for their support in kind.
We’d be most grateful for your support towards our project costs.
The easiest way to make sure all your support goes directly towards our project, and avoid any fee deductions, is to make a donation by bank transfer. As The Vauxhall Band is a registered charity your support may be able to go even further with Gift Aid.
Please let us know how to contact you by filling out this form and we’ll respond with our bank details.
The Vauxhall Band is a charity registered in England and Wales as charity no.1199436 and company no.13919517
For further information about the project please contact Artistic Director, Laura Piras – [email protected]