BREMF – 1588 – WINDS OF FORTUNE: A PAIR OF INVASIONS – FIERI CONSORT

It’s a very special talent that can conjure up such sweet Spring zephyrs when November is blowing a gale outside. Fieri Consort, singing European and English music from the time of the Armada, ring all the changes from pastoral bliss to heavy mourning.

Just one voice to a part, they projected every nuance of this demanding repertoire. We could hear the distinct colours from each voice, delivered with perfect phrasing and exquisitely precise tuning. I couldn’t decide which voice I loved the most. When they sang altogether in eight parts the effect was glorious. Victoria’s ‘Ave Maria’ and Byrd’s majestic ‘Quomodo cantabimus’ delivered magnificent climaxes, and all eight singing trippingly the encore, Josquin’s gabble-fest ‘El grillo’, was a lovely joke.

Authoritative sources say we can hope to hear them again next year – bravo!

St Paul’s Church, 9 November 2018

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