Joe Fuller: Entertainment

Brighton Early Music Festival unearths
valuable contributions from women

It was previously thought that a woman’s role in early music was either domestic or as theatrical singers, but research over the last few decades has cast their contribution in a new light. Artistic Directors Clare Norburn and Deborah Roberts mention in their brochure introduction for example that composers such as Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre were “fully professional and highly revered women in receipt of high salaries, or living from the proceeds of their publications”. This research has led to 2015’s Brighton Early Music Festival theme of women (as creators, enquirers, muses, enchanters).
De La Guerre’s work will be performed by the London Handel Players featuring the superb, renowned soprano Ruby Hughes (winner of the 2009 London Handel Singing Competition and a previous BBC New Generation Artist). You can hear the Judith cantata on Youtube and the prominence of the harpsichord and singing style are a good example of the early music style if you haven’t heard any before. In fact, if you’re new to classical music then early music is a good style to try out in general since it’s often fairly accessible and melodic, particularly compared to modern classical. (St George’s Church, Saturday 31 October, 7.30pm)

The Orlando Consort are presenting a new soundtrack to Carl Theodor Dreyer’s classic film La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc, including music from the era such as Guillaume Dufay and also plainsong. Such haunting a cappella choral music has a clear passion in it and leaves a stark, ethereal impression on you in a live setting. (St George’s Church, Friday 30 October, 7.30pm)
One of the concerts I’m most excited about involves “trance and meditation in an Italian renaissance” which was enough to pique my interest straight away. Three different choirs will be evoking the mood of 16th century Ferrara, including some first modern performances discovered through research by Musica Secreta.
It might sound daft or superfluous to go on about venues when the music is obviously the most important thing, but I’m often surprised when long-term Brighton residents haven’t been in St Bartholomew’s Church before. It’s a stunning building and choral music sounds fantastic there, so this is a great opportunity to visit while hearing some music for the first time in hundreds of years. (St Bartholomew’s Church, Saturday 24 October, 7.30pm)
There are a lot more brilliant looking events at the festival; I’ve highlighted some picks from the first half of the programme here and will discuss later shows in a future column. I’ve been to a lot of BREMF shows myself and the high quality performances of sublime music is striking. It makes for some truly different and atmospheric nights out.

Go to www.bremf.org.uk to find out more about the rest of the programme and book tickets. Tickets are available at a broad range of prices, from £5 for standing or restricted view prom tickets on the door.