The annual Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festival (21 – 25 May 2014), one the region’s musical highlights, showcases some of the world’s finest early music performers in Beverley’s magnificent and historic venues.
This year’s programme features the internationally acclaimed keyboard specialist Andreas Staier, Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and lutenist David Miller. Philip Cave’s outstanding choral group Magnificat makes its festival debut. And, as part of Yorkshire Festival 2014 (March 27 – July 6), Robert Hollingworth’s wild, wacky and utterly brilliant vocal ensemble I Fagiolini recreates an evening of Venetian masques and musical mayhem in Toll Gavel Church with ‘Carnevale Veneziano From Monteverdi to Monty Python’.
Delma Tomlin, Festival Director says: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome such a starry array of performers to this year’s Festival. It is also very exciting to be able to offer audiences and visitors to the region the chance to be part of Yorkshire 2014 – the world’s first cultural festival to run during the build up to the Tour de France. I Fagiolini’s Carnevale Veneziano is a highlight of this year’s Early Music Festival and takes place right in the middle of the 100 day-long celebration of Yorkshire’s world class arts and culture, in the count down to the start of the Tour. “
2014 Festival Programme:
▪ Elin Manahan Thomas soprano and David Miller lute, theorbo, 19th century guitar ‘If Music be the Food of Love’
In 2012 the Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas 2012 dazzled an audience of more than a billion viewers worldwide with her performance of Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine at the London Paralympics Opening Ceremony. In her first visit to the Festival she performs a programme of songs by three of the greatest song composers of all time – Dowland, Purcell and Schubert – and is accompanied by the equally outstanding David Miller on lute, theorbo and 19th century guitar. Their programme includes instrumental works by Dowland, Robert de Visée and Johann Kaspar Mertz.
Wednesday 21 May, 7.30pm, Toll Gavel United Church, Toll Gavel, Beverley
▪ The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments‘Nine Daies Wonder’
Steven Player, the ebullient dancer, actor and musician joins The Society to perform Will Kemp’s outrageous Elizabethan publicity stunt ‘Nine Daies Wonder’, which still retains the power to delight, amuse and baffle audiences 400 years on. Its raucous dance tunes see Player’s heels and toes tapping like a Renaissance Fred Astaire combined with leg and hand flourishes that Michael Flatley would envy with the poise and dynamism of a flamenco dancer.
Thursday 22 May, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, North Bar Within, Beverley
▪ Leah Stuttard and Agnethe Christensengothic bray harp, voices, belles, gusli and kanklés ‘Oluf Strangeson’s Joust’
Singer and harpist Leah Stuttard returns to the Festival, joined by Danish mezzo soprano Agnethe Christensen with an enchanting selection of music and poetry from Northern climes around the 1500s, embracing rustic songs, virtuosic instrumental music, lullabies, lively dances and serene hymns inspired by the unique Danish ballad – Oluf Strangeson’s Joust.
Friday 23 May, 1.00pm, The Quire, Beverley Minster
▪ I Fagiolini directed by Robert Hollingworth ‘Carnevale Veneziano From Monteverdi to Monty Python’
I Fagiolini brings to life the music, mayhem, political intrigue and comic entertainment of Venice at Carnival through the music of Banchiere, Monteverdi, Gabrielli and Vecchi’s madrigal comedy L’Amfiparnaso.
Part of Yorkshire Festival 2014.
Friday 23 May, 7.30pm, Toll Gavel United Church, Beverley
▪ Pellingmans’ Saraband Susanna Pell viols Jacob Heringman lute Faye Newton soprano ‘Twenty Waies upon the Bels’
Pellingmans’ Saraband delights audiences with a gold mine of music from the 16th and 17th centuries interspersed with lute songs and a colourful selection of rounds, featuring music by Thomas Ravenscroft, John Johnson, Nicholas Lanier and Thomas Campion.
Saturday 24 May, 1.00pm, St Mary’s Church, North Bar Within, Beverley
▪ Andreas Staier harpsichord ‘From Bach to France’
As one of the world’s most distinguished and charismatic harpsichord and fortepiano performers, Andreas Staier’s musical mastery has made an indelible mark on the interpretation of baroque, classical and romantic repertoire. His Festival programme features music by d’Anglebert, Couperin and J.S. Bach.
Saturday 24 May, 3.30pm, Toll Gavel United Church, Toll Gavel, Beverley
▪ Magnificat directed by Philip Cave The Tudors at Prayer
Philip Cave’s brilliant and much recorded choral group Magnificat performs some of the most sublime music of the Tudor age, including many pieces that may well have accompanied Henry VIII, Mary and Elizabeth I, who all valued music very deeply, in their most introspective moments.
Saturday 24 May, 7.30pm, Beverley Minster – Concert by Candlelight
▪ A Tudor Workshop for Singers with Philip Cave Sunday 25 May from 10.00am – 4.30pm
Philip Cave, the internationally renowned director of the choral group Magnificat, invites singers of all voice types to explore the glorious repertory of the Tudor Church. A reasonable level of sight singing is advantageous. The day concludes with an informal performance at 4.00pm which is open to all and free of charge.
Workshop Tickets £15.00 (students and observers £10.00) including music. Please book by 16 May to allow for provision of music. www.necm.co.uk/tudor-workshop
Festival Tickets: £5.00 to £25.00 are available from the NCEM at St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York YO1 9TL. Telephone: 01904 658338. Email: boxoffice@ncem.co.uk
