“Real virtuosity… can be given nowdays, but what can differentiate performers is their ability to go beyond that and to reveal their own, and the composer’s, musicality… Nathaniel Mander is about as far from the irritating ‘look-at-me’ antics of some performers as you can get…”
— Andrew Benson-Wilson, London Festival of Baroque Music
“Nathaniel’s imaginative realisation… was a joy throughout… the palette of colours was extraordinary.”
— Hexam Courant
Join us for the inaugural evening and an intimate celebration marking the launch of Music That Lives and The Tonal Composers Society.
Guests will be welcomed with a glass of champagne on arrival, followed by a recital by Nathaniel Mander — leading early keyboard performer and composer — and founding composer and 18th century artistic advisor of Music that Lives and The Tonal Composers’ Society.
In the true spirit of the great 18th and 19th century music salons, the programme will include selected works by Bach, Mozart and Chopin, and a world premiere of an original composition by Nathaniel Mander, composed for our Broadwood & Sonos 1860 fortepiano.
After the performance, we invite you to linger for a relaxed reception with a curated selection of wines and refreshmenets — an opportunity to meet the artist, connect with fellow guests, and step into the first chapter of something truly special.
Nathaniel writes:
“There is nothing quite like the sound of an instrument from a different epoch to fire up the imagination and to transport you back to different times. This is what first enchanted me all those years ago, of course then it was the harpsichord’s crystalline tones that drew me through the mirror. How glad the old masters would be to know that the harpsichord lives again!
Fantastic work has been done to celebrate the instrument through today’s lens but I’ve always had a fascination for the authentic soul of these 18th and 19th century instruments. The elegant proportions, scale, delicacy of sound and tone all speak of a certain sensibility to style and good taste. Better suited to smaller scale encounters in which listeners are drawn in rather that forced back, I’ve always been inexplicably drawn to this aspect of historical keyboards. And so too with pianos; bright toned, silvery speaking instruments that delight with old world charm. Perhaps it wasn’t so much that I was blessed (or cursed) with the natural sensibility of an 18th century gentleman, but rather a lifetime of listening intently to the gentle tones of a beloved musical companion has had such strong influences on my whole being as to render me practically from another age! I’m sure it’s both.
Regardless of such idle musings, how much I delight that the doors of a new salon are flung open once more this May to welcome those curious listeners who like me wanted to travel back in time.
In a recital of music by Bach, Mozart and Chopin in the most intimate of surroundings one can expect to find every elegance to delight the eye and from the music, hopefully, every nuance to charm the ear. I look forward to welcoming you to my concert.”
Evening Schedule
Doors open: 18:45 - with a welcoming glass of champagne or soft drink to start the evening.
Concert: 19:30 - 20:30
Reception: 20:30 - 21:30 - the post-concert reception with a curated selection of wines and soft drinks, offering a chance to continue the conversation, meet the performers, and savor the evening.
Nathaniel Mander - early keyboard performer, composer
Nathaniel Mander is a British keyboardist known for his refined interpretations of early music, particularly from the Baroque and Classical periods. His playing is marked by clarity, expressive nuance, and a deep sensitivity to historical style.
He began his musical education with Richard Lester in Cirencester and later studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Carole Cerasi. His training continued with influential teachers including Elisabeth Joyé, Skip Sempé, Pierre Hantaï, and Béatrice Martin in Paris and Rome—experiences that helped shape his stylistic versatility and interpretive approach.
Nathaniel has received several awards, including first prize at the Early Keyboard Ensemble Competition at Fenton House and the Broadwood Harpsichord Competition, as well as the Harold Samuel Bach Prize from the Royal Academy. He held the Linda Hill Junior Fellowship at the Royal College of Music for two consecutive years.
His performances have taken him across Europe, the US, and South America, both as a soloist and ensemble player. He has collaborated with Les Musiciens du Louvre under Marc Minkowski and performed at the Palais Garnier as part of their 2022 opera season. His repertoire spans from Elizabethan keyboard music through to Mozart, Schubert, and early Romantic composers, often performed on period instruments.
A recent highlight was a private performance for Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, in the lavish George IV rooms at Windsor Castle.
Nathaniel’s discography includes The 18th-Century French Salon and a critically praised recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, which received top marks from the Dutch specialist Classical music magazine, Luister. He also premiered and recorded a harpsichord concerto composed for him by Barry Mills with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra.
In addition to performing, Nathaniel is committed to education and outreach. He teaches, gives masterclasses, adjudicates competitions, and has developed a series of instructional online videos available from his website.
With a thoughtful, historically informed approach and a growing international presence, Nathaniel Mander continues to be a distinctive voice in the world of early keyboard music.