Brighton Early Music Festival returns to the city this autumn with more than 20 events showcasing early and traditional music spanning over a thousand years. The 2024 Festival explores the theme of Connections – cultural, historical and musical – making explicit the aim to bring a new audience to the music of the past. To paraphrase Morrissey, the music of plainsong, crumhorns and harpsichords can sometimes feel like they have nothing to say about our lives; but BREMF have been successfully highlighting the transcendent power of early music since 2003, and this year’s programme promises to be no different.
The festival runs 11 – 27 October 2024, with pre-festival events from 7 September. Irreverent baroque specialists Red Priest open the main proceedings at St. George’s Church with Truly Madly Baroque (11 Oct), including interpretations of works by Bach, Handel, Telemann and Vivaldi. Leaning into the trope of comically large historically-accurate instruments, Don’t Stop the Music is an evening of dovetailing performances exploring works from the 1400s to the 1700s by fresh-faced duo Flutes & Frets (19 Oct). Perennial classics like Vivaldi’s iconic “Gloria” and newly discovered Scarlatti works will be represented in The Forgotten Scarlatti (12 Oct), as well as music, dance and stories from India, West Africa and the Ancient Mediterranean in Origins at St. Martin’s Church (13 Oct).
One of the festival’s stand-out offerings showcases the work of visionary 12th-century polymath Hildegard of Bingen. Hildegard Transfigured 2 at St. Martin’s Church (20 Oct) is a piece of concert-theatre that expands on a work conceived for 2018’s BREMF. The visions which consumed Hildegard both physically and spiritually throughout her life inspire a light show by visual artist Innerstrings (20 Oct) that accompanies her original music as well as new compositions set to her words. It promises to be a transporting evening focusing on the work of one of the key crossover figures of pre-modern thinking.
In a slight departure from concert hall formality, Smock Alley will be bringing the atmosphere of a night out in 18th-century Dublin to St. George’s Church (25 Oct). With table seating and a bar, expect a rowdy time as they fuse Irish traditional music with Italian baroque. There will also be early music specialists visiting from The Netherlands and Spain (18 & 27 Oct) and live music in the pub (2 & 19 Oct). For those travelling into Brighton from further afield there are lunchtime concerts on Saturdays (12, 19 & 26 Oct) and an afternoon showcase of the newest early music talent with tea & homemade cakes (19 Oct).
There’ll be plenty of opportunities for audience members to take part – from coming along to a vocal or instrumental workshop (7 & 14 Sept & 6 Oct), trying a free 20 minute performance (21 Sept), to bringing your children or grandchildren to a family concert with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (5 Oct).
Tickets for all events are free for under 12s, and offered at a reduced price for under 30s, students and those on benefits. There are also £5 standing or restricted view tickets for many events which will be released on 1 October.
Browse the full programme and book tickets at www.bremf.org.uk/whats-on
Photos by Robert Piwko and Graham Flack
