BREMF – The Brighton Early Music Festival 2019
Autumn is here and BREMF 2019: METAMORPHOSIS has begun. As in previous years there have been the warning signs of creative workshops for beginners and specialists, plus a few events for tots and the audience of the future. Well, the artists belong to The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and we find them living up to their illustrious name. Thanks to their outreach, thousands of youngsters have a bright expectation of what excellent music should be and this contagious gift should last for life. Next Saturday, Events 5 & 6 are especially for younger audiences, who can attend for free. Any accompanying adults will have an hour or two well spent, enjoy themselves and most likely learn something too.
The whole festival looks wonderful, with intriguing programmes from the regular BREMF choirs on this year’s theme of change. Some popular BREMF alumni are returning, like the phenomenal student tenor Rory Carver with his ensemble Dramma per Musica; Improviso, who as their name suggests always present something new in the context of early music; and Fieri Consort, back for a third time since their brief but spectacular debut in BREMF LIVE! 2014.
This BREMF mentoring scheme has nurtured the professional careers of many young stars, generously giving first-hand insights into stagecraft, marketing, managing finances, staying sane! The BREMF LIVE! 2019 SHOWCASE will expose another four emerging ensembles to an audience studded with scouts from festivals like York, Cambridge and Kendal. It’s a privilege to hear these artists close at hand as they set out on what will likely be illustrious international careers.
BREMF also offers a stage to well-established international stars like Italian ensemble La Fonte Musica, whose programme of well-researched medieval music should be right up my street. The big ticket is likely to be THE ART OF MOOG – 21st-century hyper-Bach on synthesizers. I usually prefer my Bach straight but I’m assured this event, concert, show will be fabulous and convert me. Anyway, my niece reckons her eight-year-old son will enjoy it and who am I to slight his expectations?
7 October
Andrew Connal
