Magic, mystery and the supernatural: Get ready for York Early Music Festival 2016
This year’s York Early Music Festival, entitled Fairies, Witches and Aerial Beings, marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare.
Featuring music from the Elizabethan theatre it also includes pieces inspired by the Shakespearean themes of magic, mystery and the supernatural.
The festival prides itself in supporting an ever-increasing number of emerging ensembles and this year is delighted to present three exciting young ensembles under the NCEM Platform banner.
These hour-long showcases this year feature:
- recorder player Tabea Debus with her group Cantata per Flauto (Mon July 11, 6pm, York Cemetery Chapel)
- Cecilia Bernardini, violin, and Keiko Shichijo, fortepiano (Wed 13 July, 2pm, NCEM)
- and the Sollazzo Ensemble (Fri 15 July, 4pm SOLD OUT).
Lifetime achievement award
This year’s Festival will also honour Anthony Rooley, one of Yorkshire’s famous sons, with the 2016 York Early Music Lifetime Achievement Award.
A founder of the Festival in the late Seventies, Anthony has achieved world-wide recognition as director of The Consort of Musicke and a highly respected and much loved teacher.
Tickets still available for these concerts
Ensemble Lucidarium in a programme focusing on Shakespeare’s Venice
Fri 8 July, 7.30pm
Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York
Rose Consort of Viols with a selection of Elizabethan play-songs
Sat 9 July, 5.00pm
St Olave’s Church, Marygate
The Sixteen’s Choral Pilgrimage 2016 with music by Byrd, Tallis and Arvo Pärt
Sat 9 July, 7.30pm
York Minster
Lutenist Thomas Dunford working with Persian percussionist Keyvan Chemirani
Sun 10 July, 8pm
NCEM
Internationally renowned violinist Kati Debretzeni
With David Miller theorbo and baroque lute and James Johnstone harpsichord
To Mis-Tune A Fiddle
Tues 12 July, 2pm
NCEM
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment – The Tempest A ‘Dramatick Opera’
Led by lutenist Elizabeth Kenny
Thurs 14 July, 6.30pm
Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York
The City Musick directed by William Lyons
With The Topping Tooters of the Town
Music of the London Waits 1550-1650
Sat 16 July, 6pm
NCEM
You can listen to John Bryan, one of the Artistic Advisors of the York Early Music Festival talking about this year’s Festival here.