Brighton Early Music Festival 2014

Come to Brighton this autumn, and let yourself be transported to Rome, Paris, Warsaw or Santiago thanks to Brighton Early Music Festival’s 2014 theme of Cities, Musical Centres and the journeys between them.

Running across three weekends from 24 October – 9 November, and now in its thirteenth year, Brighton Early Music Festival is now firmly established as a part of Brighton’s autumn cultural calendar and regularly attracts audiences of over 4,000.

The Festival opens with Venetian festivities from 24 Oct, and highlights of the first weekend include medieval music from The Telling (25 Oct, lunchtime), followed by showcases from two of the Festival’s resident choirs: music from Rome with BREMF Consort of Voices (25 Oct, eve), and then a pilgrimage to Santiago with the BREMF Community Choir joining a Spanish ensemble (26 Oct).

The hot ticket of the 2014 Festival is an all-new programme of music from the Polish 17th century court performed by The Sixteen (31 Oct), and the journey continues with a whistle-stop tour of Europe – Grand Tour Shorts, performed by some of the newest talents on the early music scene (1 Nov, daytime). If the evening Portuguese/Brazilian/African fusion from l’Avventura (1 Nov, eve), is a little too ‘merry’, you can revive yourself with the following day’s recreation of Bach’s favourite coffee house with Little Baroque Company (2 Nov, daytime), or retreat from it all to the Paris Convent with Musica Secreta (2 Nov, eve).

The final weekend is a dance spectacular! Opening with The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments’ homage to a morris dancing publicity stunt by a member of Shakespeare’s company (7 Nov), and continuing with French baroque dance in a new music-drama, Powerplay, with Le Jardin Secret (8 Nov, eve). Contrast is provided by music from CPE Bach in his 300 anniversary year (8 Nov, lunchtime) and two titans of the London music scene – Handel and Purcell, rounding off the Festival with the BREMF Player and Singers and a stellar line-up of young soloists (9 Nov).

The Festival line-up is completed by opportunities to take part in workshops for singers and instrumentalists (from 20 Sept); music for families with two Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment TOTS concerts (18 Oct, daytime); and music in a relaxed environment with two ‘club night’ style events – The Night Shift (17 Oct) and the Festival’s own club night with Venetian music from the Fieri Consort (24 Oct) – masks optional!

The Festival is committed to accessibility, and this year there are more low-price tickets than ever, with £5 Prom tickets available for almost all festival concerts. You can also buy a season ticket for all festival events for £167 for the best tickets (£148 concessions) or £50 for a bargain prom pass – offering standing or restricted view tickets.

Tickets go on general sale on 3 September 2014 via the Festival website at www.bremf.org.uk (no booking fee for e-tickets), or by phone or in person from Brighton Dome Ticket Office on 01273 790709.