Apollo's Fire - a tireless front-runner among America's finest Baroque orchestras - is set to make its first transatlantic tour culminating in a concert at London's Wigmore Hall on 30th November 2010. Fire and Folly is the title of its European tour programme and typical of this dynamic group represents a themed collection of pieces designed to offer a lively perspective on the prevailing musical styles of 18th century Europe.

Edward Seckerson talks to Jeanette Sorrell, Apollo's Fire founder and Music Director, about the genesis of group in Cleveland, Ohio, and more particularly about their unique approach to programming. Their aim from the start has been to celebrate flair and creativity over scholarship and to take the audience on an emotional journey with every programme they devise. They've even introduced evenings of American folklore into the mix. Sorrell honed her harpsichord and conducting skills with the legendary Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam and Leonard Bernstein in Tanglewood. Two larger than life personalities and independent thinkers... and two good reasons why Apollo's Fire are striving to blaze a different path.