TO THE 2024 BRIGHTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL
We live in a beautifully interconnected universe and never has it been more important for us to be aware of that. Selecting and commissioning events for this year’s festival has rarely been a more fruitful experience, pushing away boundaries in both space and time, and realising the extent to which music has always connected universally felt emotions with the beauty we see in both the natural world, and in the many artforms we have created over millennia. This is the heritage of every human and it has always been our passion to open access to ever more people, of every age and any cultural background. With prom tickets at £5 there isn’t much to lose!
Our main commission this year, Origins (Event 10), was inspired by the huge success of last year’s project, The Whispering Dome, winner of the pan-European early music network, REMA’s award for Best Extra European project. There we followed the flight path of migrating birds; in Origins we dig into the connected roots of music, dance and stories from the ancient Mediterranean, India and West Africa. You can even take part in this, and many other events, joining workshops and courses, many requiring no previous experience. We offer concerts, pub gigs, bars, cakes, an extraordinary range of music and, most of all, a unique experience.
Deborah Roberts Artistic Director
Funders and partners:
We would like to thank our supporters and all of our Festival Friends. Without your generosity, Brighton Early Music Festival could not continue to bring top quality artists to Brighton or deliver its vital work in the community. Thank you! Brighton Early Music Festival gratefully acknowledges financial support from Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants and charitable trusts including the Fidelio Charitable Trust, The Thistle Trust, Thriplow Charitable Trust and The Behrens Foundation, as well as funders who have confirmed support after this brochure went to print. Technical support and lighting design for all Festival events provided by Natalie Rowland and Pitch Black.
Rob Orchard
Saturday 5 October, 10.30am & 12 noon, Friends’ Meeting House
OAE TOTS
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Come and join the OAE on a musical adventure. Bring your clapping hands, singing voices and stamping feet for this family concert aimed at 2-5 year olds and their parents and carers.
Wednesday 2 October, 8pm The Brunswick, Hove
THE TELLING UNCHAINED
A great social night out with plenty of participation. Learn how The Telling make their arrangements of medieval music. Join in the singing and be a part of the action.
Tickets: £15; for half price tickets see back cover
Tickets: £8; under 12s free
Sunday 6 October, 2pm-5pm The Dance Space, Circus Street
CHORAL
WORKSHOP FOR ALL ON VIVALDI’S GLORIA
Led by Christopher Monks of the Armonico Consort
Join us for a workshop open to all, including families, and discover the joys of singing this highly accessible music. No experience needed.
Tickets: £10; for half price tickets see back cover; under 18s free
Robert Piwko
Robert Piwko
Saturday 12 October, 7pm
St George’s Church
FAMILY CONNECTIONS: THE FORGOTTEN SCARLATTI
Dixit Dominus & Messa a 16 by
Francesco Scarlatti & Vivaldi’s Gloria
Armonico Consort
Christopher Monks director
The most spectacular classical music find of the century.
Overshadowed by his elder brother, Alessandro, and nephew Domenico, Francesco Scarlatti was largely forgotten until now. The discovery of these extraordinary works is rapidly changing all of that! The concert will also include Vivaldi’s ever-popular Gloria, where the large-scale forces of voices and instruments will be joined for some sections by young voices from Eastbourne Music Centre and local primary schools.
Tickets: £24/£18; for half price tickets see back cover; under 12s free. Prom (restricted view) tickets £5.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT BREMF
BREMF has been bringing unique events to Brighton since 2002. With the help of our community we can continue to do so for many years to come.
Become a Festival Friend: Many audience members commit to a regular gift via our Friends scheme which helps us plan for the future. You can support at a range of levels, from £40 per year. See bremf.org.uk/festival-friends
Volunteer: Our friendly team of volunteers are at the heart of the Festival, helping at events and assisting with spreading the word about our programme. Find out more at bremf.org.uk/support-bremf or call 01273 833746
Peter Marsh, Ashmore Visuals
Sunday 13 October, 7pm
St Martin’s Church
ORIGINS
Exploring ancient roots and connections via music, dance and stories from the greater Mediterranean, India and West Africa
Idrîsî Ensemble
Thomas Fournil director
BREMF Community Choir
Andrew Robinson director
Aradhana Arts
Sanju Sahai tabla
Jaymini Sahai Kathak dance
Debipriya Sircar voice, sitar
Suntou Susso voice, kora
Palaye Seck lion dance
Participants from a lion dance course directed by Palaye Seck
Adam Courting narrator
Music, dance and storytelling are as old as humanity itself and have spread around the globe with the migrations of people and their cultures, in a past deeper than any surviving written records. Many ancient traditions have evolved into forms still practised to this day. A thrilling evening to set your imaginations free from any borders.
Tickets: £22/£18; for half price tickets see back cover; under 12s free. Prom (standing) tickets £5.
LION DANCE COURSE
Join Palaye Seck to learn the lion dance and participate in Origins. A six-week course for all ages at South East Dance on Sundays at 11am starting 8 September. See bremf.org.uk/whats-on for full information and to sign up.
Palaye Seck
Thomas Fournil
Aradhana Arts
Suntou Susso
Friday 18 October, 7.30pm
St Bartholomew’s Church
CONNECTIONS OF POWER
Music for the 1468 wedding of Margaret of York to Charles the Bold of Burgundy
Cappella Pratensis
Tim Braithwaite director
BREMF Consort of Voices
James Elias director
The wedding of Princess Margaret of York, sister of King Edward IV, to Charles, Duke of Burgundy was certainly one of the most lavish and musically rich of the century. This programme presents some of the music that would have been part of the celebrations, including works by Dufay and Busnois as well as the English composers Frye and Dunstable.
An immersive evening of chant and polyphony – some improvised, and the BREMF debut of Dutch ensemble Cappella Pratensis, singing from original notation around a choirbook stand.
Tickets: £20; for half price tickets see back cover; under 12s free. Prom (standing) tickets £5.
Supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands in the United Kingdom
EVENT 12
Saturday 19 October, 1pm St Nicholas Church
DON’T STOP THE MUSIC
The Malcolm Rose Memorial Concert Flutes & Frets
Join former BREMF Live artists Flutes & Frets for a non-stop hour of music on an array of lutes and flutes connecting four centuries.
Tickets: £15; for half price tickets see back cover; under 12s free. Prom (restricted view) tickets £5.
Crown of Margaret of York, Aachen Cathedral Treasury / Alamy
Johan Beckers
Saturday 19 October, 3.30pm
St George’s Church
BREMF LIVE SHOWCASE
Our popular annual showcase of the latest up and coming talent on the early music scene, selected by competitive audition. Previous participants have gone on to be selected as BBC New Generation Baroque Ensembles and enjoyed national and international success – this is your chance to hear the stars of tomorrow!
Interval with tea and delicious home-made cakes
Lowe Ensemble
Minerva Baroque
Nocturnalia Ensemble
Triple Fipple
Tickets: £20; for half price tickets see back cover; under 12s free. Prom (restricted view) tickets £5.
EVENT 14
Saturday 19 October
9pm, The Rose Hill
BREMF LIVE
CLUBNIGHT
Join the BREMF Live musicians for informal performances in a pub setting.
Tickets: £8. Standing event (very limited seating)
EVENT 15
Sunday 20 October
6.30pm & 8.30pm, St Martin’s Church
HILDEGARD TRANSFIGURED 2
Voice Trio
Innerstrings
Female vocal trio Voice returns to BREMF with a new version of their spellbinding production featuring music by Hildegard of Bingen and contemporary composers influenced by her. The music is complemented by a 21st-century lightshow inspired by her visions.
Tickets: £22/£18; for half price tickets see back cover; under 12s free. Prom (standing) tickets £5.
Robert Piwko
Robert Piwko
Friday 25 October, 7.30pm, St George’s Church
SMOCK ALLEY
Irlandiani
Join us for a vibrant blend of Irish and Italian baroque combined with Irish traditional music. Smock Alley recreates a night out in 18th-century Dublin, at the Smock Alley Theatre and in the surrounding streets. Informal event with table seating and a bar
Tickets: £22/£18; for half price tickets see back cover; under 12s free. Prom (restricted view) tickets £5. £22 seats are downstairs around tables; £18 seats are upstairs in the gallery (except wheelchair spaces).
Saturday 26 October, 1pm St Nicholas Church
DECAMERON MUSICALE
A mosaic of musical stories from medieval Europe
Rune
Taking the sharing of stories that characterises Boccaccio’s 14th-century masterpiece, Decameron, the voices and medieval instruments of former BREMF Live ensemble Rune provide a beautiful hour of beguiling music. This programme mirrors the various aspects of human nature and experience that Boccaccio displays, in the same vivid detail.
Tickets: £15; for half price tickets see back cover; under 12s free. Prom (restricted view) tickets £5.
Matthew Robins
Ben Tomlin
EVENT 16
EVENT 17
Saturday 26 October, 7.30pm
St Martin’s Church
FRENCH CONNECTIONS
Sumei Bao-Smith, Emilia Bertolini
& Emily Brown Gibson sopranos
Sophie Timms mezzo-soprano
Bradyn Debysingh tenor
Andrew Robinson baritone
BREMF Players
Alison Bury leader
Baroque Collective Singers
John Hancorn director
Tracing the influence of the Italian style on French music of the 17th century, this programme includes Giacomo Carissimi’s poignant early oratorio, Jephte, along with choral, solo vocal ensemble, and orchestral works by Charpentier and Lully. Featuring vocal soloists selected as part of the BREMF Live young artist programme.
Event sponsored in memory of Sally Morris, talented amateur musician and loyal BREMF supporter
Tickets: £24/£18; for half price tickets see back cover; under 12s free. Prom (restricted view) tickets £5.
Sunday 27 October, 7.30pm, St Martin’s Church
CATHERINE
& MARY: TUDOR QUEENS FOREVER ENTWINED
Spanish music surrounding the stories of two queens: Catherine of Aragon and Mary I Cantoría
Vibrant young Spanish vocal and instrumental ensemble, Cantoría presents an evening of atmospheric Spanish music. This repertoire would have been familiar to both Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and their daughter, the future Queen Mary I, connecting the Tudor and Spanish courts.
Tickets: £22/£18; for half price tickets see back cover; under 12s free. Prom (standing) tickets £5.
Giovanni Francesco Romanelli: Jephtha’s Daughter, Art History Museum Vienna / Alamy Marta Vilardell
Friends booking from Monday 29 July
Public booking from Wednesday 7 August
TICKETS
Advance booking is strongly recommended as we cannot guarantee the availability of tickets on the door. Seats are not numbered and are unreserved within price bands, but for most events we provide a seat reservation service for BREMF Friends at Silver level and above. Find out more at bremf.org.uk/festival-friends
Tickets will be sold online at bremf.org.uk (£1 transaction fee) or by post (£2 transaction fee). A postal booking form may be downloaded from bremf.org.uk or obtained by calling 01273 833746
Half price concession tickets are available only for young people (aged 12-29 inclusive), full-time students, and those in receipt of Universal Credit (or equivalent benefits) or Pension Credit (but not state pension alone). Free tickets are available for children under 12 (under 18 for Events 3 & 6) and carers. For queries about access issues please contact jenny@bremf.org.uk
Season Ticket Discount: Bookings for 6 or more main festival events (Events 7-19 excluding Event 14) in one transaction will receive a 10% discount.
£5 Prom tickets will be available on the door and online from 1 October. This admits you to a standing place or restricted view seat depending on the venue.
Workshops: pre-registration is essential for BREMF workshops (Events 1, 2 & 6).
Deadlines are given on the website but in all cases booking may be closed earlier if all places have been allocated.
We regret that tickets can only be refunded if the event is cancelled or in exceptional circumstances.
VENUES
St Martin’s Church, Brighton BN2 3HQ
St George’s Church, Brighton BN2 1ED
St Bartholomew’s Church, Brighton BN1 4GP
St Nicholas Church, Brighton BN1 3LJ
Friends’ Meeting House, Brighton BN1 1AF
The Rose Hill, Brighton BN1 4JL
St Paul’s Church, Brighton BN1 2RE
St John’s Church, Knoyle Road, Brighton BN1 6RB
The Dance Space, Circus Street, Brighton BN2 9AS
The Brunswick, Holland Road, Hove BN3 1JF
St Luke’s Church, Queen’s Park Road, Brighton BN2 9ZB
Holy Cross Church, Woodingdean BN2 6BD
Please see bremf.org.uk for full details of how to find each venue, including public transport and parking information.
Professional filming may take place at some events for archive and promotional use.
Full terms and conditions may be found at bremf.org.uk/terms-and-conditions
Registered charity no 1097288
All events subject to change or cancellation
Brochure