From London to Venice via Leipzig and The Hague, with Grand Tour: Baroque Road Trip, Simon Murphy and the New Dutch Academy take a fascinating journey through Europe in a sumptuous programme of Baroque musical treasures for their sixth release for PENTATONE. Using authentic instruments in an immersive acoustic, these vivid performances not only celebrate the glories of the Baroque but also the sheer joy of making music.

“We've aimed to create a musical experience where you can really feel the human physicality involved,” writes Simon Murphy, “… and the earthy and raw, textured and gritty, sometimes rustic aspects of this Baroque craft of music making.”

This musical journey takes in works by Bach, Handel, Telemann, Vivaldi and van Wassenauer.

Described by De Volkskrant as “a musician with guts: a conductor with the passion and conviction of a born missionary”, Simon Murphy has a reputation for bringing fresh perspectives to the classic symphonic repertoire and is the founder and artistic director of the award-winning New Dutch Academy. This Baroque orchestra was described by BBC Music Magazine as “a big band playing on period instruments” and praised for its “sumptuous ... swinging rhythms ... stylish ornamentation ... inventive extemporisation.”

“This album takes its inspiration from the sheer delight and excitement of 18th-century musical travellers,” writes Simon Murphy in the album notes, “there is such a palpable excitement as they embark on their musical adventure … I hope you enjoy the album and feel inspired by it.”