This possible encounter may have been the impetus for Baltzar's decision to emigrate to England in 1655, leaving behind his newly attained position of Ratslutenist of Lübeck (he had returned briefly to his home city, probably shortly after Christina's abdication in June 1654).
Evelyn wrote in his Diary that night:[2] This night I was invited by Mr. Rog: L'Estrange to heare the incomperable Lubicer on the Violin, his variety upon a few notes & plaine ground with that wonderfull dexterity, as was admirable, & though a very young man, yet so perfect & skillful as there was nothing so crosse & perplext, which being by our Artists, brought to him, which he did not at first sight, with ravishing sweetenesse & improvements, play off, to the astonishment of our best Masters: In Summ, he plaid on that single Instrument a full Consort, so as the rest, flung-downe their Instruments, as acknowledging a victory.
In September 1656, Baltzar was listed as one of the musicians who helped premiere The Siege of Rhodes in London,[1] thought to have been the first all-sung English opera.
[1] Wood, who had heard Baltzar play at a performance in Warden John Wilkins's lodgings at Wadham College, Oxford, described his "very great astonishment" at the German's skill.
"[4] On 23 December 1661 Baltzar entered Charles II's service as a leader of the king's private music ensemble, the "four and twenty fiddlers," succeeding Davis Mell in the post.