A Breath of Fresh Air at St Nicholas' Church
A concert inspired by eighteenth century visitors to Chiswick
Peter Sheppard Skærved – Picture: Royal Academy of Music
May 12, 2026
Chiswick’s artistic past comes vividly to life this June as The Friends of St Nicholas’ Church and Hogarth’s House join forces for A Breath of Fresh Air!, an evening of music and words inspired by the extraordinary artists who lived in and visited Chiswick during the eighteenth century. It was here—between the river, the meadows and the clean air west of the city—that the Hogarths and the Burlingtons welcomed painters, writers and musicians seeking space, light and conversation.
On Thursday 18 June at 7pm, St Nicholas’ Church will host violinist Peter Sheppard Skærved and harpsichordist Julian Perkins in a programme that evokes that creative world. Audiences can expect works by Handel, Torelli, Tartini, Telemann, Rousseau, Pepusch, Matteis and Barsanti, performed on period instruments, alongside newly commissioned pieces and spoken word contributions from Malene Sheppard Skærved, Mihailo Trandafilovski and David Hackbridge Johnson.
The evening promises a rich blend of old and new music that once drifted through the gardens of Chiswick House and Hogarth’s House, paired with contemporary reflections on the artists who shaped the area’s cultural heritage. It is both a celebration and a rediscovery of the creative communities who found inspiration in Chiswick’s landscape long before it became part of London’s sprawl.
Tickets are £12, or £6 for students. For anyone interested in local history, baroque music or the artistic legacy of Chiswick, this is a summer highlight waiting to be enjoyed.
The concert takes place at St Nicholas Church, Church Street, Chiswick, W4 2PJ.
Pianist Bridget Yee to Perform at St Nicholas Church
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