BREMF – Autumn Season 2022 – Preview

The Brighton Early Music Festival Autumn season is nearly upon us and promises another splendid selection of events, starting with a preview screening of ‘La liberazione di Ruggiero’, a film of Francesca Caccini’s 1625 opera directed by Tom Guthrie. This is BREMF’s most ambitious project so far and features an excellent cast that includes many favourite BREMF singers and instrumentalists.

Talking of favourites, it would not be BREMF without the BREMF Consort of Voices who are giving us a concert of Renaissance choral gems for Michaelmas. Ensemble Hesperi are also a welcome regular fixture. They have prepared a programme of under-performed 18th-century music with a strong Scottish flavour.

A major feature of BREMF is the mentoring and support given to aspiring performers. Dr David Allinson’s Choral Workshop will focus on Portugal’s Golden Age, a rich source of wonder. Alena Dantcheva and Michele Pasotti are presenting two events: a masterclass for young singers, including BREMF veterans Kat Carson and Laura Lopes; and an annotated concert of airs and laments by Sigismondo d’India. I described their concert in 2019 as flawless and amazing – this one should be nothing less. The BREMF Live! Showcase gives the stage to emerging early music ensembles and then mentors them through the difficulties of establishing their professional careers. It is always one of the most exciting events in BREMF as we are privileged to hear the stars of the future. Two such alumni, the Marian Consort and Ensemble Molière, are back again in BREMF, now as award-winning leaders in their fields, with their own full length programmes – not to be missed! All the returning performers are proof of the enduring benefits of BREMF’s encouragement and the nurturing qualities of the BREMF community.

The Autumn Season runs from 29 September – 23 October 2022 in various locations in Brighton and Hove.