Our Programs
Judith
An exploration of Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre's exciting cantata Judith; based on the bible story of the same name, featuring poetry and music written by women in the past and present day. This performance is an exploration of how women write about and process their rage and other emotions through art.
Songs for Sidney; an evening in the company of Madame Pratten
Catharina Josepha Pratten was a German virtuoso guitarist, composer, and teacher who went by the name 'Madame Sidney Pratten'. Join us as we delve into the world of 19th century England, in the style of an intimate evening house concert full of storytelling and music. With Mdme Pratten's arrangements of English folk songs and music from the great German masters.
Mistress, Maiden, Monster: A Modern Masque
In this performance, we present the stories of three different female characters, from plays by Shakespeare; Desdemona (Othello), Kate (Taming of the Shrew), and Viola (Twelfth Night). Through these women, we pose questions about what their stories tell us about how women were viewed in Shakespeare’s time, and what this means to us when we see them today. What do Shakespeare’s stories tell us about how women are viewed in today’s society? Is what they say uncomfortable? Resonant? Relevant? We hope to create a dialogue with our audience and challenge them to think about how they view women. This performance is a modern reinvention of a masque, a quintessentially English form of court entertainment containing storytelling, music, and acting.
The French Connection
The French Connection follows the life of Nicholas Lanier, a French lutenist who fled to England escaping religious persecution and went on to gain the title 'Master of the King's Music' in the court of Charles I and II. Nicholas' grandfather had been court composer to Henry II of France, so this performance weaves music and poetry together to paint a picture of courtly life across the channel.
Scènes Pastorales
Scènes Pastorales delves into the world of Greek mythology, showing pastoral scenes as seen through the eyes of the French Baroque composers. The program is divided into three sections, each showing a snapshot of pastoral life. We see a forlorn love, a doomed romance in which a young shepherd’s eye is turned by the beautiful Iris, and the Greek myth of Pan and Syrinx in which the goat-god pursues a fleeing nymph.
More DetailsOde à la Musique
Ode à la Musique focuses on the journey of Arion, a mythological character whose prowess with the lute shaped the music of a generation. The program explores Arion’s life, and expresses a love for and joy in music, incorporating declamation of greek texts translated by Dr. Talitha Kearey.
More DetailsAnd Now for Something Completely Different
You will usually find us performing Baroque Classical music, but we also have a fun evening of folk music and poetry to offer! In this program we pick up yet more instruments, and serenade the audience with traditional folk music (and a few original pieces thrown in for good measure!) from Slovakia and the UK. Come along for a relaxed night of music making as we unwind from French Baroque tragedies with the home grown tragedies of the likes of Barbara Allen.
Isolated Souls
Created as a reaction to the global pandemic, Isolated Souls explores the complexity of emotions emerging from solitude, isolation and loneliness. During the Cornavirus pandemic, we found ourselves each locked down in different homes all over the Netherlands and in Israel, unable to perform together as a full group. This inspired us to create a program that would reflect the situation and its consequences, focusing on the individual performers' experiences through songs, poetry and solo music.
More DetailsTriumphant Days, Charming Nights
A collaboration with the BREMF Community choir, featuring some of Purcell's finest music. With 'Come ye Sons of Art' and extracts from 'The Fairy Queen'.