BREMF Consort of Voices: Rome – Popes, Patronage and Power

The Early Music Festival is always a joy in its spiritual home, the beautiful surroundings of St Bartholomew’s Church. Guillaume Dufay’s ‘Kyrie Elesion’ was a short, moving piece with simple high parts that sounded quite modern in fact, while Marbriano de Orto’s ‘Gloria’ was more technically impressive with a complex composition, rich bass and intriguing time signatures. Palestrina’s ‘Gloria’ was split up throughout the church with three sections calling and responding beautifully, utilising talented participants from a recent workshop to great effect. Allegri’s famous ‘Miserere’ was the highlight however, with stunning top C notes from the soprano that reverberated sublimely around the whole building.

St Bartholomew’s Church, 25 October 2014

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