BREMF – Lucrezia Borgia’s Daughter (Musica Secreta, Celestial Sirens, Brighton Festival Youth Choir)

The concept of this performance was about discovering hitherto unheard music from nuns in convents in the 16th century that could have been composed by Borgia’s daughter (Leonora d’Este). The music was quietly beautiful, with a shimmering soprano voice from Deborah Roberts leading proceedings and d’Este’s ‘Sicit lilium’ a delicate standout gem. Orlando di Lasso’s ‘Susanne un jour’ was a fantastic melodic instrumental, emotively played by Alison Kinder and Claire Williams on viol and organ respectively. The evening was atmospheric, featuring superb singing and intriguing pieces, but the specialist focus on one pace and style of music and a long running time meant that the uninitiated’s mind might have wandered.

St Bartholomew’s Church, 24 October 2015

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