Today it's time for a guest post and so we hand you over to Felicity for an inside look at this year's Brighton Early Music Festival...
I’ve just got back from my very first visit to Brighton and I loved it! I’ve always been drawn to the city, its reputation for being alternative, exciting and creative, and this was something that made applying for the Graduate Traineeship with BREMF even more appealing.
One of the reasons I wanted to work with BREMF is that they very quickly banish any pre-conceived notions of what an Early Music festival might consist of! Their first pre-Festival event this year was held on Saturday 21st September: an 8 hour singathon, with free workshops and performances spread across two venues, one of which was the pub! The ridiculously eclectic programme included a Russian choir, a 5 year old singing sensation, as well as a cappella performances from both of the Festival’s own artistic directors.
For me it was a great chance to meet some of the artists, volunteers and audience members in a relaxed setting, and to see how well the Festival fits into the Brighton scene. I also got the chance to take part in vocal workshops: improvising on a Russian melody, working with the dynamic lead singer of Joglaresa, Belinda Sykes, and harnessing our inner meerkat with Deborah Roberts (perhaps you had to be there!).
The Festival’s theme this year is Passion, and events include a new concert-drama on the life of Gesualdo, the infamous sixteenth-century composer who murdered his wife, and the Festival finale performance of JS Bach’s St John Passion.
BREMF attracts the biggest and best performers from the Early Music scene, and one of the events I’m most looking forward to will be Early Music Club Night: Cool Passion on 26th October, where BREMF will showcase the talent of 22 new generation musicians from innovative and visionary ensembles such as the Borromini String Quartet and I Flautisti. If you have not yet heard rising star mezzo-soprano Esther Brazil, whose voice has been raved about in the national press, this will also be your chance to catch her before her she whizzes off on her next concert tour to Carnegie Hall in New York! We will also be joined by BBC Radio 3, who are seizing the opportunity to record the live performances for future broadcast. The stunning interior of St Bart’s Church will be lit up with dramatic lighting, and with an informal setting and performances over three stages it should prove to be the perfect introduction for newcomers to get passionate about Early Music!
Felicity Dunk
BREMF Festival Trainee 2013
Early Music Club Night: Cool Passion
When: Saturday 26th October, 8pm until late – come and go as you wish
Where: St Bartholomew’s Church, Ann Street, Brighton BN1 4GP
Tickets: £8 (£5 conc) in advance from www.bremf.org.uk (no fee for e-tickets) or from the Dome Box Office 01273 709709 (£2.25 fee); £10 (£5 conc) on door
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