Simon Rickard is a specialist in historical bassoons, baroque musette, and the bizarre renaissance rackett. Since graduating from the Dutch Royal Conservatorium in the Hague, he has performed and recorded with numerous international period instrument ensembles, notably Les Arts Florissants, and the Gabrieli Consort and Players, as well as Australia’s finest period bands, including Latitude 37, Van Diemen’s Band, Genesis, Apeiron Baroque, and his own groups, Ensemble Pompadour and Unholy Rackett.

Image: Lando Rossi

Simon Rickard - baroque musette

Nicholas Pollock - theorbo

In the eighteenth century, if you wanted to hear music, you didn’t simply stream it on your phone, you had to play it yourself. In this programme of music by Joseph-Bodin de Boismortier, Nicolas Chédeville, and others, Ensemble Pompadour explore the charming repertoire once played in the private apartments of Versailles Palace, on two of the most fashionable instruments of the day - the mighty theorbo, and the bijou musette; a bagpipe designed especially for playing indoors. 

Image Albert Comper

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