Recorder31 Day 22 | Instagram Takeover with Apollo's Cabinet

Recorder31 offers an insight into so many aspects of the recorder scene, and today we've handed over our Instagram account to the multi-award-winning Baroque ensemble Apollo's Cabinet, who will be taking us along to their concert in Switzerland...

Apollo's Cabinet, featuring recorder players Teresa Wrann and Tom Pickering, will be performing this afternoon in Muri, Switzerland, in a reprisal of their popular programme Musical Wanderlust, previously released as an album on the Prima Classics label in 2024. Along the way they will share a behind-the-scenes look at life on tour as an early music ensemble, and perhaps share a bit of music with us too!

Click here to follow along with the takeover on our Instagram page – @earlymusicshop

For all of us who can't be there in person, here's a fun video featuring Tom and Teresa duelling out divisions to 'The Duke of Norfolk' from John Playford, as featured on the album 'Musical Wanderlust'. And if you like what you hear, you can buy albums by Apollo's Cabinet from The Early Music Shop now!

About Apollo's Cabinet

Murders, drinking songs, Cinderella stories, European tours, serene polyphony and candlelit rituals all feature in the evocative and story driven programmes of Apollo’s Cabinet. Winners of the Royal Overseas League Mixed Ensemble prize, Utrecht Oude Muziek Competition and the Göttingen International Händel Competition, the group offer a signature mix of acting, dancing, poetry and drama to bring historical performance to modern audiences. They have furthermore won the Brian Nisbet Prize for their fusion of Music and Poetry, audience and first prize at #GeneraciónSMADE in Spain, the F. J. Aumann Prize for innovation and new discoveries in Baroque music at the International Biber Competition in Austria, first prize at the Maurizio Pratola Competition, Italy, the Friends prize at the York Early Music International Young Artists Competition, second prize at the CIMA competition in Loire Valley, France, and last but not least won the Potsdam Lunchtime Concert Competition in Germany.

Performance highlights to date include concerts at the London Handel Festival, Konzerthaus Vienna, Felix! Festival Köln, The Georgian Concert Society Edinburgh (as part of a tour supported by Tunnell Trust) , AMUZ Antwerpen, OudeMuziek Fabulous Fringe, :alpenarte Schwarzenberg and the Brighton Early Music Festival.

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REMINDER! Our Modern & High-End Recorders promotion continues all weekend, with fantastic offers available on selected instruments including top-of-the-range models and innovative modern designs. These prices are only available until Sunday 23 August 23:59PT so explore the collection now!

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Today’s spotlight is on a true powerhouse of contemporary design: the Mollenhauer Modern Soprano in Grenadilla.

Designed in collaboration with Nik Tarasov and Joachim Paetzold, the Modern Soprano bridges the gap between traditional recorder voicing and the dynamic demands of modern ensemble and solo repertoire. Crafted in grenadilla with extended keywork down to B, this is an instrument built for serious projection and expression.

Listen to the incredible dynamic range on display. Unlike traditional Baroque copies that can choke when pushed, the Modern Soprano thrives on strong air pressure. Notice the rock-solid stability in the lower register—reaching right down to B4 with total security—and a singing, luminous upper register that cuts through modern piano accompaniment or large ensembles with complete ease.

Click here to find out more about this recorder.

Listen to this recorder!

Sammartini Allegro: