| 10.30am |
Arrival and coffee |
| 11am |
Deborah Roberts*
Welcome and introduction to the festival theme |
| *We regret that Flora Dennis is no longer available to chair the day, as advertised in the brochure.
|
| 11.15am |
Audience Q&A with Deborah |
| 11.30am |
From Darkness into Light
Professor Laurie Stras talks about two extraordinary manuscripts of sacred music and her discovery of the complete
Brumel Lamentations hiding in plain sight in one of them; never recognised because not attributed to any composer. She will question why anonymous music is so often ignored, and introduce this startling and highly dramatic setting that will receive its first performance in modern times at our opening festival event with Musica Secreta (Friday 25 October, 8pm). Hear extracts from the CD recording to be released at the concert.
|
| 12 noon |
Audience Q&A with Laurie |
| 12.15pm |
Burying the Dead
Clare Norburn introduces her highly successful concert play on the life and music of Henry Purcell during some of the most transforming years in the history of London (Thursday 31 October, 8pm). She also talks about the creative process of bringing music and drama together in a way that vividly contextualises both, and discusses some of her latest work.
A great opportunity also to find out more about what Clare has been up to since she left as co-artistic director of BREMF!
|
| 12.45pm |
Audience Q&A with Clare |
| 1–2.30pm Lunch break.
|
| 2.30pm |
Her Father’s Voice
In discussion with Deborah Roberts and Laurie Stras, soprano Hannah Ely will talk about her interest
in composer and performer Barbara Strozzi (b.1619) and the musical play about her that Fieri Consort has commissioned
(Friday 1 November, 8pm).
Hannah will also sing some of Strozzi’s music featured in the play, accompanied by Toby Carr on theorbo.
|
| 2.50pm |
Ovid and the Lirone
Harry Buckoke introduces an instrument that became popular in the 17th century, especially for the accompaniment of
dramatic laments in some of the earliest operas. It is a fretted bowed instrument with a flat bridge that allowed the
playing of sustained chords with a haunting and other-worldly sound. Most early operas were based on stories from Ovid’s
Metamorphoses and the lirone often represented the lyre of Classical mythology.
|
| 3pm |
Lirone in Performance
Harry Buckoke (viola da gamba, lirone) and Toby Carr (theorbo) are joined by soprano Hannah Ely
in a performance of dramatic music featuring the lirone.
|
| 3.30pm |
The Feast of Fools
Director Saskia Wesnigk-Wood will be joined by members of BREMF Community Choir and their director Andrew Robinson
to introduce the themes behind BREMF’s
production of the popular medieval festival that turned society on its head, and to perform some of the music.
|
| 4-4.30pm Tea break
|
| 4.30pm |
Shadows of the Night
BREMF Live! artists Apollo’s Cabinet (baroque instrumental ensemble) introduce their showcase programme
(Saturday 2 November, 3pm) and play some appetisers!
|
| 4.50pm |
Transformers
Deborah will talk briefly about BREMF Consort of Voices’ festival event (Sunday 27 October, 7.30pm) and also highlight the importance of BREMF’s own performing ensembles.
|
| 5pm |
General discussion/round table with some of the day’s presenters
A chance to ask any remaining questions about this year’s Festival programme, as well as more general comments or questions about BREMF and its future.
|
| 5.30pm Finish
|
