Australian soprano and NCEM Platform Artist Emilia Bertolini
Emilia Bertolini, Sergio Bucheli and Lucie Chabard, Love And Melancholy, National Centre for Early Music, York, December 7
NOT the least of the many pleasures thrown up by these festivals is the discovery of new talent in the NCEM Platform Artists’ programme.
Here we enjoyed the Australian soprano Emilia Bertolini, the French harpsichordist Lucie Chabard and the Mexican theorbist Sergio Bucheli, whose common denominator is that they undertook all or part of their training in London, underlining its status as the world capital of advanced music education.
Between songs by Purcell in this midday recital, they included chansons by three of his French contemporaries along with two instrumental interludes. Bertolini is in fact no stranger to North Yorkshire, having played Cupid in Venus & Adonis at last year’s Ryedale Festival with considerable flair. The same enthusiasm shone through her Purcell.
There were some neat decorations in I Attempt From Love’s Sickness To Flyand a lovely line in Fairest Isle, following a tasty instrumental intro. The trio combined graphically in She Loves And She Confesses Too, with its intimations of witchcraft, taken from Abraham Cowley’s The Mistress (1680), while Man Is For The Woman Made was wittily cheeky.
Bertolini has a nicely focused soprano with a touch of darker tone that adds creaminess. This tended to evaporate when she sang the chansons from a seated position. But, standing again, it returned perfectly for the wide leaps of O Solitude and a leisurely account of An Evening Hymn, where her breath control was superb.
Her encore was fascinating: a setting of Thomas Carew’s No More Shall Meads Be Deck’d With Flowers by Nicholas Lanier, the first Master of the King’s Musick, with its Italian-style strophic variations.
Bucheli threaded his way calmly through the improvisational thickets of a Kapsberger toccata, while Chabard’s harpsichord found a nice balance between her hands in an instrumental version of Les Sourdines, an air from Lully’s opera Armide(1686). An elegant programme, stylishly delivered.
AT first glance, this seems to be an unlikely meeting of minds.
Sean Shibe is a classical guitarist, former BBC New Generation Artist specialising in contemporary classical music. Aidan O’Rourke, on the other hand, learned the fiddle in the West Highland style and has his roots firmly planted in Scottish and Irish music. Lùban, the project name, means ‘loops’ (in Scottish Gaelic).
The fear, well, my fear when two very different musical cultures combine, is that we find an all too often lazy ‘cross-over’ music or, as Aidan O’Rourke puts it: a “classical world …trying to reverse-engineer the blurring of boundaries”. Lùban, however, is an entirely different experience.
Joining the party were guests John Dowland and Robert Johnson, both famous 16th-century English Renaissance composers, lutenists and singers, Mr O’Rourke himself and, it goes without saying, John Cage.
The programme opened with Aidan O’Rourke taking centre stage and performing a continuous flow of Scottish folk-inspired tunes and understated dances or reels. As there were no programme notes or playlist, one had to rely on the softly spoken Mr O’Rourke for steerage, I quickly decided to focus solely on the music itself. And it was quite magical.
A lovely folk tune, sometimes singing free and sometimes accompanied, harmonised in a way that had echoes of Bach, transformed into a dance, a jig – all understated yet utterly engaging.
We then returned to the song and accompaniment. I found the playing so poignant. Mr O’Rourke closed this medley (for want of a better term) with a fast, rhythmically-driven dance to round things off.
We then welcomed Sean Shibe to the stage. He began with a Dowland song, well, what sounded like one. He teased out the most beautiful of lute melodies emerging from various lute textures.
The two performers combined to perform some 17th-century dance tunes, jigs. The initial lead was very much fiddle driven where the syncopated, hemiola rhythms added variety, complexity and energy.
The first half closed with a delightful set of violin and lute duets. Each instrument had a distinct musical identity whilst still cohabiting with and enriching each other.
A sober processional ushered in the start to the second half. It wove a kind of minimalist, hypnotic spell, the violin playing just two notes throughout (a major second interval if memory serves). Tonally this demanded resolution, instead it transformed into a lovely Dowland-esque song infused with folksong flavours.
The instrumental roles were then exchanged with the violin singing a gentle, melancholic jig and the lute breathing the air of Dowland. However, it was once again the quirky rhythmic twists that really added to the vitality of the performance.
Now then, seated on a stool on the stage was the elephant in the room in the form of an electric guitar. I was reminded of the ‘infamous’ Bob Dylan response to a folksy heckler (Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1966) objecting to the electric betrayal: “Play it …loud,” he said to the band. I omitted Dylan’s expletive. No such concerns here, though.
Sean Shibe created a gentle cushion of support for the fiddle lament. The electric guitar playing gradually evolved, using a foot pedal and harmonics – the violin lament remaining a constant, into a world of contemporary otherness. Quite brilliant, ingenious and rewarding.
Following a return to the lute and the musical wonderland of 16th-century English Renaissance John Dowland or Robert Johnson, a contemporary musical window reopened. This time it was Aidan O’Rourke playing a violin ostinato or loop, exploiting the colour of the strings and harmonics. How we arrived here was quite as mysterious as the sound-world being expressed: eerily beautiful.
So we met Dowland and, presumably Robert Johnson, and Aidan O’Rourke seemed to be omnipresent. But no sign of John Cage. I suspect, however, that for Cage the sounds of the odd empty beer bottles being knocked over would constitute the ambient sound intended to contribute to the performance. Maybe not.
Finally, Sean Shibe and Aidan O’Rourke promised us a “shared language [we] might find in the backstreets, byways and marginalia of ancient Scottish lute and fiddle manuscripts”. And thanks to their quite remarkable musicianship and insight, we did just that.
Spiritato: Opened York Early Music Christmas Festival with Northern Light concert
THE eight members of Spiritato opened this year’s festival in some style, exploring the ‘Northern Light’ that shone from mainly German composers born between the 1620s and the 1650s. By far the best-known of them was Johann Pachelbel, who was the only composer we heard from twice.
The other unifying factor was that all their music was unearthed recently from a collection essentially assembled by Gustaf Düben at the Swedish court, where he was a member of its orchestra from 1648.
On this occasion, Spiritato omitted its much-vaunted trumpets but fielded two violins and two violas, with four instruments in its continuo section. This lent particular muscle to the bass line, no bad thing in Baroque music.
But whenever viola da gamba and bassoon were underpinned by organ, itself rather boomy, the balance was awry and bottom-heavy. Whenever harpsichord replaced organ, the upper strings emerged with much greater clarity.
Although seven of the nine numbers here were designated ‘sonata’, virtually all made use of a ground bass – chaconne if you prefer – at some stage. These sonatas, not to be confused with classical sonata form, had numerous sections, varying in tempo, meter and character.
The opening one, by Heinrich Schmelzer, was a variation sonata, where Spiritato’s rhythms were especially lively. A Pachelbel Ciaccona, its title already hinting at a nod towards Italy and built solely on the top four notes of the descending minor scale, featured riffs for the upper strings, which were eagerly seized upon.
Rather in the manner of jazz, individual instruments were allowed to the fore: Sergio Bucheli’s idiomatic theorbo in a Johann Kaspar Kerli sonata, for example, while Catriona McDermid’s agile bassoon had a moment in the spotlight courtesy of a Krieger sonata – which also had a touching pianissimo ending.
One of the evening’s most memorable offerings was the fifth of Pachelbel’s six Musical Delights, this one a trio sonata in C, where the counterpoint was exceptionally smooth – and silkily delivered.
A Kirchhoff sonata demanded, and received, considerable virtuosity from the violin of the group’s leader, Kinga Ujszászi; she also gave witty introductions to several of the works. She oversaw tempo-changes throughout, including a hyperactive epilogue to the closing Romanus Weichlein sonata.
These composers may not have been among the greatest names in music history. But they were the men who tilled the very ground from which the great J S Bach was to spring in 1685. He owed them much.
Review by Martin Dreyer
York Early Music Christmas Festival runs until December 15. For the full programme and tickets, go to: ncem.co.uk.
Ensemble Augelletti: BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Baroque Ensemble present their new Christmas programme, The Morning Star, at the NCEM on December 13at 7pm
CHRISTMAS festivities gather pace with a community pantomime, Early music festival, cabaret, Strictly dance king and a Muppet movie, as Charles Hutchinson reports.
Festival of the week: York Early Music Christmas Festival, National Centre for Early Music, Bedern Hall and Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, until December 15
YORK Early Music Christmas Festival 2024 is under way, presenting 12 concerts and one (sold-out) choral workshop led by I Fagiolini founder Robert Hollingworth in a celebration of the winter season, its festivities, traditions, darkness and light, mulled wine and mince pies.
Concerts by Solomon’s Knot (Sunday), Stile Antico (December 12), Intesa (December 15) and Awake Arise (December 15) have sold out but tickets are available for Love And Melancholy with soprano Emilia Bertolini (today, 12 noon); Siglo de Oro (today, 6.30pm); Sean Shibe & Aidan O’Rourke (December 9, 7.30pm); Green Matthews (December 11, 7.30pm); Ensemble Augelletti (December 13, 7pm); Contre le Temps (December 14, 12noon) and Yorkshire Bach Choir (December 14, 7.30pm). Box office: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk.
Micklegate Singers: A White Christmas lunchtime concert for York Late Music at Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate, York
Christmas concert of the week: York Late Music presents Micklegate Singers, A White Christmas, Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate, York, today, 1pm
MICKLEGATE Singers chart a journey from Joanna Marsh’s In Winter’s House through wintry landscapes to arrive at a Christmas prelude courtesy of Poulenc, Tallis, Vaughan Williams and more, including the world premiere of York composer James Else’s A Little Snow.
Among further works will be Holst’s Bring Us In Good Ale; Oliver Tarney’s The Waiting Sky and John Harle: Mrs Beeton’s Christmas Plum Pudding (Average Cost 3 Shillings And 6d). Box office: latemusic.org.
Rowntree Players’ principal panto players in Mother Goose, opening today at the JoRo
Let the egg puns get cracking: Rowntree Players in Mother Goose, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, Saturday, 2pm and 7.30pm, Sunday, 2pm and 6pm; December 10 to 13, 7.30pm; December 14, 2pm and 7.30pm
MEET Jack (Gemma McDonald), head of hens at Chucklepatch Farm, with its newest addition to the coop, Priscilla the goose (American Abbey Follansbee). Joined by mum Gertrude Gander (alias Mother Goose, Michael Cornell) and his sister Jill (Laura Castle), they head out on their panto adventure.
Desperate for showbiz, Gertrude gives up the Wolds for the bright lights of Doncaster. However, ever-nasty landlord Demon Darkheart (Jamie McKeller) and his assistant Bob (Laura McKeller) will stop at nothing to collect rent, but dishy farmer Kev, the King of Kale (Sarah Howlett) and Fairy Frittata (Holly Smith) will not let the dark side rule in a rollicking romp directed by co-writer Howard Ella. Tickets update: Down to last few tickets or limited availability for most performances on 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.
Velma Celli: Xmas Roast cabaret songs, comedy and festive fruitiness at Impossible York
Christmas cabaret of the week: Velma Celli’s Xmas Roast, Impossible York, St Helen’s Square, York, Sunday 6pm, doors 5pm
YORK’S international drag diva deluxe, Velma Celli, hosts a fabulous evening of music, comedy and festive frolics. “Come and have yourself a merry Christmas,” says Velma, the Best Cabaret at Perth Fringeworld 2024 award-winning alter ego of West End musical actor and Atlantis Gay Cruises headline act Ian Stroughair, who promises “cabaret meets a partaaaaaay”. Box office: ticketweb.uk/event/velmas-xmas-roast-impossible-york-tickets/13855143.
The Hollywood Sisters: Cat Foster, left, Rachel Higgs, Henrietta Linnemann and Helen “Bells” Spencer
Fundraising festive concert of the week: The Hollywood Sisters & Friends, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, Sunday, 7pm
THE Hollywood Sisters, the York vocal harmony group with vintage Hollywood vibes, have added extra tickets after selling out Sunday’s show. Expect a cabaret evening of music, song and a sprinkle of festive cheer featuring the luscious close harmonies of Helen “Bells” Spencer, Cat Foster, Rachel Higgs and Henrietta Linnemann and guest appearances by The Rusty Pegs, Mark Lovell, Phoebe Breeze and Anthony Sargeant.
All profits will go to the fundraising campaign for a new sensory room for dementia patients at Foss Park Hospital, in Haxby Road, York. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.
Anton du Beke: Christmas song and dance with the Strictly Come Dancing judge and Friends at York Barbican
Dance show of the week: Anton du Beke in Christmas With Anton & Friends, York Barbican, December 10, 7.30pm
STRICTLY Come Dancing judge and dashing dancer Anton Du Beke glides into York in his new festive tour show, joined as ever by elegant crooner Lance Ellington, a live band and a company of dancers for an evening of song and dance with added Christmas dazzle.
“I’ve always dreamed of doing a big Christmas show as it’s the best time of the year, so this is a real treat for me,” says the ballroom king. “It’s the show I’ve always wanted to do with some old faces and some new!” Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
Jools Holland: Playing to a full house at York Barbican
No year would be complete without…Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, York Barbican, December 11, 7.30pm
BOOGIE woogie pianist supreme Jools Holland makes his obligatory winter outing to York in the company of his top-notch rhythm & blues players and vocalists Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Sumudu Jayatilaka.
His special guests will be Soft Cell singer Marc Almond, who previously toured with Holland in 2018, and blues guitar prodigy Toby Lee, his guest on last year’s tour too. Holland will be performing songs from the former Squeeze keyboardist and television presenter’s long-running solo career. Box office for returns only: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
Marc Almond: Jools Holland’s special guest at York Barbican. Picture: Mike Owen
Christmas film double bill: Friargate Theatre, York, presents The Muppet Christmas Carol (U), today, 2.30pm, and Die Hard (15), today, 8pm
FRIARGATE Theatre serves up a double dose of holiday cheer and action-packed excitement, opening with Kermit, Miss Piggy and the Muppet gang being joined by Michael Caine’s Ebenezer Scrooge as they re-tell the Dickens tale with a whimsical and heart-warming twist.
Let’s leave the debate over whether John McTiernan’s Die Hard is or is not a Christmas film to another day. Instead, revel in Bruce Willis’s John McClane battling with terrorists in a high-rise building on Christmas Eve. Box office: 01904 613000 or friargatetheatre.co.uk.
Christmas Cinema at St Saviourgate
Pop-up film event of the month: City Screen Picturehouse presents Christmas Cinema at Saint Saviourgate, The Great Hall, Central Methodist Church, St Saviourgate, York, December 12 to 23
CITY Screen Picturehouse, York, is setting up a pop-up screen at Central Methodist Church for the Christmas season, kicking off on December 12 with The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) at 4pm and Bridget Jones’s Diary (15) at 7PM.
Next come Home Alone (PG) at 4pm and Love Actually (15) at 7pm on December 13; Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone (PG) at 4pm and Elf (PG) at 7.20pm on December 14, then Ali Plumb’s Untitled Christmas Film Quiz Project at 5pm and The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG) at 8.30pm on December 15.
Paddington In Peru (PG) will be shown at 4pm on December 16; Die Hard (15) at 7pm that night; The Polar Express (U) at 4pm and It’s A Wonderful Life (U) at 7pm on December 17; The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) at 4pm and Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone (PG) at 6.45pm on December 18, then Home Alone (PG) at 4pm and Wonka (PG) at 7pm on December 20.
Paddington In Peru (PG) returns at 4pm on December 22, followed by Elf (PG) at 7pm, before the season concludes with The Polar Express (U) at 4pm and It’s A Wonderful Life (U) at 7pm on December 23. Box office: picturehouses.com/YorkXmas.
Mat Jones in A Christmas Carol for two nights at Friargate Theatre. Picture: Vintage Verse
Solo show of the week: Mat Jones in A Christmas Carol, Friargate Theatre, York, December 13 and 14, 7.30pm
RING in the Christmas season with Mat Jones’s spellbinding rendition of Charles Dickens’s Victorian festive classic, brought to life in vivid detail from Dickens’s original performance text as Scrooge encounters the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet To Come en route to the redemption of London’s most miserable miser.
“A Christmas Carol is not just a story; it’s a celebration of the human spirit and the power of kindness,” says Jones. Box office: 01904 613000 or friargatetheatre.co.uk.
York artist Jo Walton setting up her exhibition at Bluebird Bakery, Acomb
Exhibition of the week: Jo Walton, Steel, Copper, Rust, Gold, Verdigris, Wax, Bluebird Bakery, Acomb Road, Acomb, York, until January 23 2025
WHEN Rogues Atelier artist, interior designer, upholsterer and Bluebird Bakery curator of exhibitions Jo Walton asked poet Nicky Kippax to put words to images she had sent her, she responded with “The heft of a cliff and a gathering of sea fret”. Spot on, Nicky.
Into the eighth month of recovery from breaking her right leg, Jo is exhibiting predominantly large works that utilise steel, copper, rust, gold, verdigris and wax in the bakery, cafe and community centre, whose interior she designed in 2021.
Intesa’s Lucine Musaelian and Nathan Giorgetti: Baroque Around The Books mini-tour
MUSICAL duo Intesa will embark on a Baroque Around The Books mini-tour of four community libraries after their appearance at this month’s York Early Music Christmas Festival.
This National Centre for Early Music cultural wellbeing initiative on December 16 and 17 is a partnership between the NCEM and Explore York Libraries and Archives.
Suitable for all, the initiative began early this year and now returns with the involvement of NCEM Platform Artists Intesa, the young European viol and voice duo of Lucine Musaelian and Nathan Giorgetti, who will be staying on in York for a short residency and library musical tour after their December 15 festival performance at Bedern Hall, Bedern.
At 11am that day, Intesa will present A Merry Conceit, exploring the theme of seeking light in the midst of dark and wintry weather in a programme of Dowland, Hume and Cuccini works alongside a selection of Armenian folk songs.
Musaelian and Giorgetti, who met at the Royal Academy of Music, formed their musical partnership in 2023, Intesa being the Italian word for ‘understanding’ or ‘a meeting of minds’. They share a passion for the sound of the viol and its combination with the voice.
Intesa’s Lucine Musaelian
The workshops will provide the communities of York with an opportunity to celebrate and discover Early Music with these two talented young performers. In turn, Baroque Around The Books reinforces the NCEM’s ongoing commitment to support, encourage and nurture the skills of emerging artists in the UK and beyond.
On December 16, Intesa will tour Tang Hall Explore at 12 noon and York Explore at 2.30pm (both free entry, no booking required); on December 17, Acomb Explore, 11am (booking required; acquire free ticket at Acomb Explore or online at tickettailor.com/events/exploreyorklibrariesandarchives/1145052), and Clifton Explore, 1.30pm (free entry, no booking required).
Tickets are free for these informal concerts thanks to an initiative by the NCEM, working in association with Explore York, supported by the Mayfield Valley Arts Trust.
NCEM director Delma Tomlin says: “Intesa are one of three ensembles from Europe performing at this year’s York Early Music Christmas Festival, and it’s a pleasure to welcome them to York for this brilliant tour.
“Baroque Around The Books concerts are free of charge and it’s wonderful to be working with our partner Explore York once again. We look forward to sharing the wonderful world of Early Music with new audiences from York communities.”
Explore York chief executive Jenny Layfield says: “This partnership with the NCEM is truly inspiring. There’s something wonderful about bringing such talented musicians into library spaces, offering our communities the chance to stumble upon a high-quality experience.
“I had the pleasure of attending one of the sessions organised by NCEM earlier this year and I absolutely loved it. If you have the opportunity to attend a performance at one of our Explore centres this December, I wholeheartedly recommend it!”
Australian soprano Emilia Bertolini. Picture: David Caird
INTERNATIONAL young musicians will take centre stage in the York Early Music Christmas Festival from December 6 to 15.
The National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) continues to support exceptional young talent in the field of Early music by welcoming three ensembles from Europe under the NCEM Platform Artists spotlight.
Taking part will be Australian soprano Emilia Bertolini, winner of the 2024 Corneille Competition New Voices in Normandy, promoted by Le Poème Harmonique; Contre le Temps, a medieval vocal ensemble from France, supported by the EFFEA’s artist-in-residence Discovery programme, in partnership with AMUZ, and Intesa, a duo of Lucine Musaelian and Nathan Giorgetti, who met at the Royal Academy of Music.
Musaelian and Giorgetti will be staying on in York afterwards to work on Baroque Around The Books, a musical tour of York libraries in a short residency with Explore York. They formed the duo only last year and are already making their presence felt on the concert platform.
Contre le Temps: Medieval vocal ensemble from France
The NCEM has a hard-earned reputation for its support of emerging talent across Europe, running both the biennial International York Young Artists Competition and until recently they were a key partner within the Creative Europe EEEmerging programme.
Ensembles showcased by the NCEM over the past few years include Protean Quartet, Sollazzo Ensemble, winners of two Diapason d’Or de l’année awards, and BBC New Generation Artists Consone Quartet.
NCEM Delma Tomlin MBE says: “The York Early Music Christmas Festival is a firm favourite on the city’s calendar. This year I’m thrilled to welcome three ensembles to York who will no doubt be a fabulous addition to this year’s spectacular programme.
“The NCEM is dedicated to promoting the extraordinary array of talent from Europe’s vibrant Early Music scene and we are grateful to be able to continue to celebrate their music in York. We hope that this will be a regular feature in our festive programme in the years to come.”
York Early Music Christmas Festival director Delma Tomlin
The concerts from the NCEM Platform Artists will be led off by Love And Melancholy, featuring Emilia Bertolini, soprano, Sergio Bucheli, theorbo, and Lucy Chabard, harpsichord, in a musical journey into the complex world of human emotions at the NCEM on December 7.
Inspired by the haunting melodies of Henry Purcell and the French court tunes of the 17th century, this evocative 12 noon programme explores love in all its forms, from joyful ecstasy to poignant melancholy.
Contre le Temps, featuring singers Karin Weston, Cécile Walch, Julia Marty and Amy Farnell, present Ubi Sunt Mulieres at the NCEM on December 14 at 12 noon.
Women have inspired thinkers, poets and creators for thousands of years with tenderness and charm, beauty and dedication, fragility and sensuality, prompting this talented young vocal quartet to turn their gaze on to the Middle Ages, focusing on works by Guillaume Du Fay and Hildegard von Bingen, one of the most acclaimed women in music history.
Intesa’s Lucine Musaelian and Nathan Giorgetti
In the third concert, at Bedern Hall, Bedern, on December 15 at 11am, Intesa’s viol and voice duo of Lucine Musaelian and Nathan Giorgetti reflect on the theme of seeking light amid dark and wintry weather with music by Dowland, Hume and Caccini, alongside a selection of Armenian folk songs, in a programme entitled A Merry Conceit.
Spiritato, featuring University of York alumnus Nicolas Mendoza on harpsichord and organ, open the festival with Northern Light, their 6.30pm programme of Baroque works by Kirchoff, Thieme, Pachelbel and Bach on December 6 at the NCEM.
“This extraordinary jewel of baroque music comes from the Royal Court of Sweden, and the wealth of that court, with all the musicians and composers that flocked up there, and now these neglected pieces have been rediscovered and what glorious pieces they are,” says Delma.
Siglo de Oro will be joined by Spinacino Consort for Hey For Christmas! on December 7 at the NCEM for a 6.30pm celebration of carols, raucous ballads, beautiful folk sonhs and lively dances, as if “we arrived at your relatives’ London house in the mid-17th century for 12 days of revelry”.
Stile Antico: Performing This Joyful Birth: A musical journey through the Christian story at the National Centre for Early Music on December 12
The choral workshop led by Robert Hollingorth, founder/director of I Fagiolini, at Bedern Hall on December 8 from 10.15am to 4pm has sold out. Hollingworth will explore a soprano canon by Guerrero, darker-hued Gombert and music by Vivanco, Aleotti and Palestrina.
Solomon’s Knot, who perform everything learned off by heart, will perform Motets by Johann Sebastian and Johann Christoph Bach at the NCEM on December 8 at 6pm.
A new project brings together two Scottish musicians embedded in their own traditions: former BBC New Generation Artist Sean Shibe, who carries the torch for classical music on his guitar, and Aidan O’Rourke, the Lau fiddler deep rooted in Scottish folk culture. Together they present Luban at the NCEM on December 9.
Join them at 7.30pm to find out where they might meet midst Dowland, Johnson, O’Rourke and Cage as they share the language they find in the backstreets, byways and marginalia of ancient Scottish lute and fiddle manuscripts.
Green Matthews: Gaudete! concert at National Centre for Early Music
Green Matthews make a Christmas return to the NCEM with an expanded line-up for Gaudete!, featuring new arrangements of Chris Green and Sophie Matthews’s festive fare, embellished with Emily Baines on early woodwind and Richard Heacock on violin on December 11 at 7.30pm.
Their lush, rich and heart-warming music evokes the spirit of Christmas over 600 years from the Middle Ages to the 20th century in a riot of sound and colour.
Stile Antico take a journey through the Christian story to the manger in a glorious sequence of music from medieval and Renaissance Europe in This Joyful Birth at a sold-out NCEM on December 12.
The 7.30pm programme follows each scene of the Christmas story, beginning in Advent and moving through to the Nativity, the visits of the Shepherds and the Wise Men, and finally to the Feast of Candlemas. Highlights include Victoria’s O Magnum Mysterium, motets by Byrd, Lassus and Sheppard, medieval carols and dances from Spain and Germany.
Ensemble Augelletti: “How beautifully shines the morning star”
Ensemble Augelletti, BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Baroque Ensemble, return to York to present their new Christmas programme, The Morning Star, at the NCEM on December 13 at 7pm, with Olwen Foulkes on recorders, Ellen Bundy on violin, Toby Carr on lute and Benedict Williams on harpsichord.
On December 23 1784, a letter by York astronomer Edward Pigott, recounting his discovery of a new variable star, made York the centre of the astronomical world, prompting Ensemble Augelletti to celebrate extraordinary stories of 17th and 18th astronomers with music named after stars, angels and 17th-centyry sonatas. Works by Corelli, Schmelzer and Uccellini will feature alongside settings of How Beautifully Shines The Morning Star.
Festival regulars Yorkshire Bach Choir & Yorkshire Baroque focus on Bach’s Magnificat in D and two cantatas, Unser Mund Sei Voll Lachens and Gloria In Excelsis Deo, conducted by Peter Seymour at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, on December 14 at 7.30pm.
“With its exuberant choruses, colourful orchestration and beautiful solo writing, Bach’s Magnificat captures perfectly the divine joy of a pregnant Mary,” says Peter.
Spiritato: Opening York Early Music Christmas Festival on December 6 with their Northern Light programme
Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith collaborate with Lady Maisery to close the festival with Awake Arise – A Christmas Show For Our Times at the NCEM on December 15. The 7.30pm programme “celebrates the riches of our varied winter traditions and reflects on the hope and resilience music and song that can bring joy to us all in the darkest season”.
“York Early Music Christmas Festival is the perfect choice for an atmospheric Yuletide evening away from the crowds, with this year’s festival featuring both Early and folk music performed by an array of talented artists,” says Delma.
“Most performances take place in the intimate surroundings of the National Centre for Early Music’s home, St Margaret’s Church, off Walmgate. Mince pies and mulled wine available at most concerts.”
York Early Music 210214 runs from December 6 to 15 at National Centre of Music (St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate), Bedern Hall and Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York. Box office: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk. Full programme is available at ncem.co.uk.
Alice becomes Queen Alice in the climax to Alice’s Christmas Wonderland at Castle Howard. Picture: Charlotte Graham
CHRISTMAS Day is still more than a month away but the season of festive exhibitions, installations and trails is up and running, as Charles Hutchinson reports.
30,000 baubles and counting: Alice’s Christmas Wonderland, Castle Howard, near Malton, until January 5 2025
FALL down the rabbit hall into “an experience like no other”: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in her Christmas Wonderland at Castle Howard, where the CLW Event Design creative team, headed by Charlotte Lloyd Webber and Adrian Lillie, has worked on the spectacular project since January.
After a two-week installation, the stately home has been transformed into an immersive Christmas experience, dressed in set pieces, decorations and floristry, coupled with projections, lighting and sound by Leeds theatre company imitating the dog. Box office: castlehoward.co.uk.
The Nunnington Hall staircase decorated for Christmas. Picture: Rebecca Hughes
Christmas Through The Ages: Nunnington Hall, Nunnington, near York, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, November 22 to December 15, 10.30am to 4pm, last admission at 3.15pm
OGLE at a Tudor feast fit for a King, step into the opulence of the Georgian era, savour the splendour of the Victorian golden age or relive the exuberant parties of the 1980s. Envision Christmas as it might have been celebrated by the families who once called Nunnington Hall their home.
On Sundays, Ryedale choirs will sing Christmas carols in the Oak Hall. Normal admission applies, with free entry for National Trust members and under-fives. To book tickets, go to: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/nunnington-hall/christmas-at-nunnington-hall.
York artist MarcoLooks working on one of his Nutcrackers for the Christmas Around The World Nutcracker Trail
Christmas Around The World Nutcracker Trail with York artist MarcoLooks, York city centre, until January 1 2025
PRESENTED by York BID, this season’s Nutcracker Trail takes a festive journey with a global twist, created in collaboration with MarcoLooks, alias York illustrator, printmaker and erstwhile CBeebies animator Marc Godfrey-Murphy.
Christmas Around the World brings ten beautifully designed Nutcracker sculptures to life, each representing a different country with colours from the national flag and landmarks that reflect York’s diverse, vibrant communities.
To start this festive adventure, pick up a map at the Visit York Visitor Information Centre on Parliament Street. Use clues on each Nutcracker to match it to the correct country, recording answers on the map. Completed entries can be submitted at the Visitor Information Centre or Santa’s Post Box in Museum Gardens for a chance to win a £250 York Gift Card.
Green Father Christmas and Ebenezer Scrooge: Tales to tell on the Kirkgate street at York Castle Museum. Picture: Duncan Lomax, Ravage Productions
Father Christmas goes back to green: Christmas At York Castle Museum, Eye of York, York, until January 5 2025
THE cobbles of York Castle Museum’s Victorian street, Kirkgate, are covered in snow to herald the festive season featuring a traditional Green Father Christmas; Ebenezer Scrooge’s account of A Christmas Carol; Victorian carol singers; roving musical miscreants The Ran Tanners; Storycraft Theatre’s Christmas stories; Tales From The Trail’s fun stories and family drop-in Christmas decorations. Lino-printing Christmas card, Christmas wreath making and lino-printing Christmas wrapping paper workshops for adults carry an extra charge. Full details, including dates of events, can be found at yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk.
In addition to these immersive experiences, Kirkgate’s shops are wreathed in festive greenery, displaying seasonal objects from the museum’s collection.
Part of the display in Princess Victoria’s Room, inspired by recently unearthed love letters penned by a valet at Treasurer’s House
Green Christmas celebrations: An Inspired Christmas, Treasurer’s House, Minster Yard, York, open Saturday to Wednesday, until December 18
AN Inspired Christmas shares stories of Mr Frank Green, the last private owner of Treasurer’s House, and the people around him. As Christmas returns to the National Trust property, staff and volunteers have given rooms merry makeovers, with many of the decorations handcrafted by volunteers.
Look out for artist Megan Barnett’s bespoke glass ornaments in the Blue Drawing Room, inspired by ecclesiastical architect Temple Lushington Moore; an unusual tree in the Court Room, inspired by the changing fortunes of house maid Ivy Cliff, and a display in Princess Victoria’s Room, inspired by recently unearthed love letters penned by a valet. To plan a visit, go to: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/treasurers-house-york.
Daylight robbery: The Highwayman mouse in the Fairfax House exhibition with a detective challenge, A Christmas Mousetery
It’s Christmouse time: A Christmas Mousetery, The Case Of The Missing Ruby, Fairfax House, York, until January 5 2025
THE Fairfax Townmice are back and this time a crime must be solved in a festive family caper. These are the Fairfax facts: On Christmas morning, the family has awoken to discover the famous Fairfax Ruby has been stolen by the dastardly Highway Mouse, but he did not act alone.
Visitors must play detective to recover this precious jewel and work out who the accomplice was. Throughout the Georgian house they will meet myriad mousey suspects, whose dubious alibis will need forensic examination to nail the inside mouse. En route, they will encounter 400 whiskered guests, causing Christmas chaos as they swing from ceilings, burst out of drawers, even smoke a long pipe. Pre-booking is advised but walk-ins are welcome. Tickets: fairfaxhouse.co.uk/whats-on/a-christmas-mousetery; free admission for age 16 and under.
Wrapping up for the York chill: A Winter Wonderland at Jorvik Viking Centre. Picture: Charlotte Graham
First snowfall in 40 years for Viking-age Coppergate: A Winter Adventure, Jorvik Viking Centre, York, until February 22 2025
WINTER has set in at Jorvik Viking Centre for a new experience that explores what conditions 10th century York might have faced during the cold, dark months. Since opening in 1984, Jorvik has presented Coppergate as a moment frozen in time in the spring, but an archaeological find – ice skates made of bone – has inspired the deep mid-winter make-over with residents now wrapped up in hats, woollens and furs.
The Time Sleigh ride takes visitors on a trip to a winter morning in York in AD 96 and a Viking Skald tells winter-themed tales of gods and monsters and discusses the kit needed to counter elements. Pre-booking is essential as no tickets are available on the door. Timeslots can be booked at jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk.
A cornucopia of animals and birds by York printmaker Gerard Hobson
Nature’s gifts: Gerard Hobson Christmas Exhibition, 51 Water Lane, York, YO30 6PW, Friday and Saturday, 10am to 5pm; Sunday, 2pm to 5pm
YORK printmaker Gerard Hobson has been busy in his garden studio preparing for his annual Open House Christmas Show. “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” says the York Open Studios regular participant. “Can’t wait to see you there!”
Gerard, who specialises in animals, birds and latterly toadstools, will be exhibiting limited-edition hand-painted lino prints, cut-outs and one-off collages, all for sale along with festive cards.
Lincoln Lightfoot’s poster for An Appetite For Destruction at 32 Stonegate, York
In Focus: An Appetite For Destruction, A Lincoln Lightfoot Exhibition, 32 Stonegate, York, running scared until December 1
IF you have spotted stirrings of life in the dormant former Cath Kidston store in Stonegate, be afraid. Something terrifying this way comes: the latest pop-up show of B-movie paranoia re-writ large in York by retro-futurist artist Lincoln Lightfoot in his depiction of ridiculous and surreal encounters with beasts, aliens and UFOs in landmark locations.
“An Appetite For Destruction is a deep dive into my art practice with new and old pieces brought to life on a scale never seen before,” he forewarns before adding cryptically: “Warning: Sensationalism may be used to promote a hidden agenda.”
Age Of Dinosaurs, by Lincoln Lightfoot
How did this space invasion emerge? “This incredible opportunity was presented to me a couple of weeks ago,” says Lincoln. “I’m part of an amazing shop located on Coney Street called Fabrication that supports local artists and makers in selling their creations.
“They’ll be moving to the former Cath Kidston shop and the former home of the parents of Guy Fawkes 1570! However, the move won’t take place till January 2025 as it’s such a busy time of year with the run-up to Christmas.
Monkgate Monster, spray paint, by Lincoln Lightfoot
“I’m the first to take up the gauntlet in what will be a variety of different events taking place in the former store. Upon first inspection from the outside, you don’t realise how large the shops footprint actually is.”
How will you use the space and your time there, Lincoln? “An Appetite For Destruction will exhibit everything I have in my studio and artwork that’s been on loan. I’ll be adorning the space with all the artwork I can lay my hands on” he says.
Birds Of Pray, Rowntree and Terry, by Lincoln Lightfoot
“I’ll be filling the ground floor with large oil paintings, big street art-style paste-ups, illustrations, brand-new limited-edition prints and skateboard deck art. I’ll be debuting the completed illustration series of The Four Gates, depicting the four main gatehouses, or ‘Bars’ of York.”
Look out too for projected video footage from Lincoln’s collaboration with Mike from SkyShift. “He’s merged his incredible drone footage into a brand-new illustration of mine,” says Lincoln. Birds Of Pray, Rowntree and Terry, by L:incoln Lightfoot
Don’t Look Up, SkyShift piece, by Lincoln Lightfoot
“There’ll be limited-edition prints from this available with 20 per cent of the proceeds going toward the Menfulness charity, while a free limited-edition print will be available for the first 20 guests of the exclusive preview event on November 21 from 6pm to 8pm. Tickets are free on an Eventbrite.”
Throughout the exhibition, Lincoln will be doing several live paintings to give visitors a glimpse into his painting process. “The collection of work should increase and change throughout the event from the preview night to the end of play on December 1,” he says.
Lincoln Lightfoot, second from right, on the preview night for An Appetite For Destruction at 32, Stonegate, York
Shed Seven: Heading out on their 30th anniversary lap of honour. Picture: Barnaby Fairley
AS Shed Seven bring their 30th anniversary celebrations to a climax, Charles Hutchinson says “Let’s go” for a week of theatre, comedy, Christmas, film and musical highlights.
On the road again: Shed Seven, 30th Anniversary Tour, Hull City Hall, November 19 and Leeds O2 Academy, November 30
ON the back of topping the album charts for a second time in 2024 with Liquid Gold (after a Matter Of Time in January), York indie champs Shed Seven head out on their 30th Anniversary Tour.
The 23-date itinerary opened at Sheffield Octagon on Thursday night, with further Yorkshire gigs to follow at Victoria Theatre, Halifax, on November 18, Hull City Hall on November 19 and Leeds O2 Academy on November 30. Tickets update: the best advice is to head to shedseven.com to check for late availability.
Paddy Young: Headlining the Rye Humour bill at Helmsley Arts Centre. Picture: Lucas Smith
Variety night of the week: Rye Humour, Comedy vs Climate Change, Helmsley Arts Centre, tonight, 7.30pm
RYE Humour’s variety bill of up-and-coming comics will be headlined by Chortle Best Newcomer winner Paddy Young, a stand-up with Scarborough roots. The 2023 BBC New Comedy Awards finalist and Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer nominee has attracted 100 million views online for his sketches with Ed Night. His comedy special, filmed by American record label 800 Pound Gorilla Records, will be released shortly.
This gig has been developed in collaboration with the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership scheme, as part of a project that uses humour to explore environmental issues based around North Yorkshire’s rivers. Any questions about the evening, or accessibility, will be answered at events@comedyvsclimatechange.org.uk. Box office: 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk.
Lucy Beaumont: Off-beat stories, unusual anecdotes and bizarre journeys through modern-day womanhood at Grand Opera House, York
Hullarious gig of the week: Lucy Beaumont Live, Grand Opera House, York, tonight, 8pm
HULL humorist, BAFTA nominee and Taskmaster star Lucy Beaumont is determined to let loose and let slip on her rollercoaster world with off-beat stories, unusual anecdotes and bizarre journeys through modern-day womanhood.
From the co-host of the chart-topping podcast Perfect Brains with Sam Campbell and creator of Meet The Richardsons comes a look at life through the Lucy lens. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
York Christmas Market: Stalls galore
York Christmas Market, Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, York, until December 22, 10am to 7pm; Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland, York Designer Outlet, St Nicholas Avenue, York, until January 5, from 10am
YORK Christmas Market lines Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square with 75 chalets selling crafts, artisan products and seasonal food and drink. Four fifths of the traders come from Yorkshire, giving a showcase to local businesses. Look out for the vintage carousel in King’s Square too.
Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland’s magical festivities at the York Designer Outlet combine an outdoor ice rink and funfair with Santa’s Grotto and Alpine café The Chalet.
Disney’s Frozen: Screening in aid of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre
Film event of the week: Fundraising Films, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, Frozen (PG), tomorrow, 2.30pm; Love Actually, tomorrow, 7.30pm
THIS weekend’s fundraiser for the Joseph Rowntree Theatre opens with a special chance for all the family to see Elsa, Anna, Sven, Olaf et al in Disney’s Frozen adventure in Arendelle.
In the evening, Christmas romance is in the air in Love Actually (15), the timeless Richard Curtis comedy stuffed with interlocking love stories. Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Colin Firth and Liam Neeson lead the stellar cast. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk
Urbane spaceman: Garrett Millerick at Theatre@41, Monkgate
Angriest gig of the week: Garrett Millerick Needs More Space, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, tomorrow, 8pm
IN Garrett Millerick Needs More Space, comedy’s “angriest optimist” returns for an honest and mostly historically accurate exploration of space travel as he examines his totally insignificant place in the universe and how little we actually know about anything.
Blending personal experiences with social commentary, while avoiding political partisanship in his hour-long show, Millerick – creator and star of the BBC sitcom series Do Gooders – looks to the stars to find solutions to our earthy complications. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.
Ivo Graham: Hoping to avoid banana skins at York Theatre Royal
Up to the task: Ivo Graham: Grand Design, York Theatre Royal, November 20, 7.30pm
WHAT (yoghurt and) banana skins await old Etonian and Oxford grad Ivo Graham next? No ball games, no blind alleys, no backstage printers this time, but one of the best stand-ups of his generation out to prove he’s “not just Taskmaster’s yardstick for failure”. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Adam Sowter: Playing Mr Poppy in Pick Me Up Theatre’s Nativity! The Musical at the Grand Opera House, York
Musical of the week: Pick Me Up Theatre in Nativity! The Musical, Grand Opera House, York, November 22 to 30, 7.30pm nightly, except November 25; 2.30pm, November 23, 24 and 30
PICK Me Up Theatre’s Nativity! The Musical returns to York after a smash-hit run two years ago, this time with director and choreographer Lesley Lettin’s cast featuring 48 children hand-picked from all over Yorkshire to play students from rival schools.
Adapted for the stage by Debbie Isitt from her films, the show follows St Bernadette’s Primary School teacher Mr Maddens (Alex Hogg) and his assistant, Mr Poppy(Adam Sowter) as they strive to mount a musical version of the Nativity, promising it will be adapted into a Hollywood movie in order to outdo rival school Oakmoor Prep. Look out for Alexandra Mather as Jennifer, Jonny Holbek as Mr Shakespeare, James Willstrop as the acid tongued Critic and Cracker the dog as Branwell. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Livy Potter as Katy, left, and Alice Rose Palmer, as mum Natalie, in Louise Beech’s How To Be Brave at Gilling East Village Hall and Helmsley Arts Centre
FROM a devilish yet dotty canine musical to comedians having their moment, a film festival to glowing ghosts, Charles Hutchinson spots plenty to light up dark days ahead.
Touring play of the week: Other Lives Productions in How To Be Brave, Gilling East Village Hall, tomorrow, 7.30pm, and Helmsley Arts Centre, Friday, 7.30pm
IN 1943, Merchant Seaman Colin Armitage’s cargo ship was torpedoed by an Italian Navy submarine in the South Atlantic. He scrambled aboard a life raft. Fifty days later, HMS Rapid rescued him.
Colin was the grandfather of How To Be Brave playwright Louise Beech. Sixty-four years after his ordeal, Louise’s daughter, Katy, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In order to distract her during insulin injections Louise began to tell the story of Colin’s bravery and determination to survive.
Scenes in this resulting play alternate between the life raft and a house in Hull as York actors Jacob Ward and Livy Potter take the lead roles in Kate Veysey’s production. Box office: Gilling East, gillinjgeastevents@hotmail.co.uk; Helmsley, 01439 771700.
Man of The Moment: Ali Woods, playing York Barbican on his debut stand-up tour
Comedy men of The Moment: Mo Gilligan, In The Moment, York Barbican, tomorrow,8pm; Ali Woods, At The Moment, York Barbican, Friday, 8pm
THE moment has arrived for two comedy tour dates with similar show titles, first up the host of Channel 4’s The Lateish Show With Mo Gilligan, Londoner Mo Gilligan, on his In The Moment World Tour 2024.
The following night, half-English, half-Scottish comedian, podcaster and content creator Ali Woods plays York on his debut stand-up tour. At 30, this viral online sketch sensation has finally fallen in love with an amazing lady. “Come on an embarrassing and cathartic journey of teenage angst, relationship fails and learning how to live in the moment,” he says. Tickets update: available for both shows, whereas An Audience With Monty Don (November 11), Jamie Cullum (November 12), Sarah Millican: Late Bloomer (November 14) and Suzi Quatro ( November 15) have sold out already. Box office: yortkbarbican.co.uk.
Artist CJP with his work The Majestic Oak at Art Of Protest Gallery, York
Exhibition of the week: From Little Acorns Grow Mighty Hopes: An Exhibition of Hand-drawn Natural Wonders, Art of Protest Gallery, Walmgate, York, until November 16
ART Of Protest is the first gallery to show CJP’s work The Majesty Oak in an exhibition of original and rare limited-edition artwork. Look out for the Art Of Protest York Special Edition, only available to be ordered until November 16, featuring the River Ouse-dwelling Tansy Beetle, an elusive insect featured on a resplendent mural near York railway station.
“This is an amazing opportunity to own a truly unique celebration of British fauna with a very special York twist,” says gallery owner Craig Humble. “CJP will add a Tansy Beetle to each piece, along with the gold leafing of the branches.”
Very definitely Pride Of Prejudice * (*Sort Of), sending up Jane Austen affectionately in Isobel McArthur’s play at York Theatre Royal
Theatrical flourish of the week: Pride And Prejudice* (*Sort Of), York Theatre Royal, until Saturday, 7.30pm plus 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees
MEN, money and microphones will be fought over in Pride And Prejudice* (*Sort Of), the audacious retelling of a certain Jane Austen novel, where the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to romance but it’s party time, so expect the all-female cast to deliver such emotionally turbulent pop gems as You’re So Vain and Young Hearts Run Free.
Writer Isobel McArthur directs this new production of her West End hit, Olivier Award winner for best comedy. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
In the driving seat: Kym Marsh’s Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians The Musical. Picture: Johan Persson
Dog show of the week: 101 Dalmatians The Musical, Grand Opera House, York, until Saturday, 7pm plus 2pm today, Thursday and Saturday matinees
KYM Marsh’s Cruella De Vil leads the cast for this musical tour of Dodie Smith’s canine caper 101 Dalmatians. Written by Douglas Hodge (music and lyrics) and Johnny McKnight (book), from a stage adaptation by Zinnie Harris, the show is re-imagined from the 2022 production at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London.
When fashionista Cruella De Vil plots to swipe all the Dalmatian puppies in town to create her fabulous new fur coat, trouble lies ahead for Pongo and Perdi and their litter of tail-wagging young pups in a story brought to stage life with puppetry, choreography, humorous songs and, yes, puppies. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
3 Missing 10 Hours, directed by Fanni Fazakas, showing in the Animation programme at Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024
York festival of the week: Aesthetica Short Film Festival, York city centre, today to Sunday, and UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO, Guildhall, York, Thursday to Saturday
THE BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival returns for its 14th year under the direction of Cherie Federico, this time integrating the tenth anniversary of York’s designation as Great Britain’s only UNESCO City of Media Arts. Fifteen venues will play host to 300 film screenings in 12 genres, Virtual Realty and Gaming labs, plus 60 panels, workshops and discussions. For the full programme and tickets, head to asff.co.uk.
The UNESCO EXPO will showcase the region’s creative sector, working in film production, games development, VFX (visual effects), publishing and design, with the chance to try out new projects and speak to creatives. Entry to the Guildhall is free.
Ghosts After Dark: New nocturnal complement to the Ghosts In The Gardens installation in York Museum Gardens
Nocturnal event of the week: Ghosts After Dark, York Museums Gardens, tomorrow to Sunday, 6.30pm to 9.30pm; last entry, 8.30pm
YORK Museums Trust and the York BID present the inaugural Ghosts After Dark, showcasing York’s rich tapestry of historical figures with light, sound and storytellers for four nights only.
Ticketholders will have the exclusive chance to experience York Museum Gardens like never before, by choosing their own path to explore 46 ghostly sculptures, hidden around the gardens and lit dynamically against an atmospheric background of smoke and sound. Box office: yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/ghosts-after-dark/.
Fishermen’s Friends: Playing York Barbican this week, then returning next October
Gig announcements of the week: Fisherman’s Friends, York Barbican, October 3 2025
IN celebration of performing sea shanties for more than 30 years across the world, Fisherman’s Friends will head out from the Cornish fishing village of Port Isaac to play a British tour split between 2025 and 2026.
York will come early, booked for night number two next October on a 32-date itinerary announced even before they have played their sold-out Barbican gig on Friday this week on their Rock The Boat tour, promoting fifth album All Aboard. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO: A showcase for York’s creative industries
THE inaugural UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO – the first such exhibition in Great Britain – will celebrate the tenth anniversary of York’s global designation in the Guildhall from Thursday to Saturday.
Taking place within this week’s Aesthetica Short Film Festival, the EXPO is a “dynamic marketplace for innovation and cutting-edge ideas, showcasing the region’s thriving and growing creative sector by exhibiting the local organisations who are making a national and international impact.”
York is the only British UNESCO City of Media Arts, providing a global stage for film production, games development, VFX (visual effects), publishing and design.
The city’s creative industries are a major contributor to the local economy, driving job creation, tourism and investment, as will be highlighted in the EXPO, where entry is free to try out new projects, speak to creatives and see how York is to generating future opportunities in retail, hospitality, transport and services.
Cherie Federico, director of Aesthetica Short Film Festival, says: “The UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO is one of the most exciting and enriching experiences to celebrate the UK’s creative industries.
“In our region, we are working on a global stage and the EXPO celebrates ten years of designation while also looking forward to how York can position itself as a national and international leader in the sector, creating jobs, driving inward investment and developing clear educational pathways.”
Sarah Loftus, managing director of collaboration partner Make It York, says: “The creative arts and culture sectors, along with ten years of UNESCO designation, are some of the many reasons that make York such a wonderful place to both live and visit. To be able to showcase this with the EXPO, in the centre of the city, is very exciting.”
Consider the facts: the creative industries contribute £109 billion pounds to the UK economy annually and employ 2.3 million people. York is a leader in that economy, as emphasised by its status as one of only 26 cities worldwide to be selected by UNESCO as a City of Media Arts, on a par with such influential locations as Austin, Texas, Sapporo, Japan, and Toronto, Canada.
Among York and North Yorkshire’s creative forces attending the EXPO will be Aesthetica; Art of Protest Gallery; Art Is My Career; Ay-Pe; Bright White; factual TV production company Button Down Productions; Creative Business Skills Academy; Last Maps Illustrations; film content production company Orillo Productions, Peel X; Pollen Studios; Pilot Theatre; Revolution Software; The Distance; visual effects specialist Viridian FX and XR Stories.
In addition to connecting filmmakers, developers and screen executives attending this week’s film festival with businesses that deliver the services they need, the EXPO will support the next generation of talent by showcasing educational pathways and career progressions.
Look out for the premiere of the latest commissioned work by Middleton-in-Teesdale environmental artist Steve Messam in the Guildhall courtyard. Known for his large-scale temporary installations that merge architecture and the natural environment – such as his permanent installation in Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery at the National Railway Museum and the Aesthetica Art Prize-nominated Portico on the front of York Art Gallery in 2022 – he has designed Lantern I as an exploration of space and interaction.
Through its intricate play with light, the new work featuring 180 metres of festoon lights will transform the historic Guildhall setting into an immersive and ethereal environment.
The BBC will be filming Messam at the EXPO, in a focus on heritage and contemporary art, ahead of his joint exhibition in China with sculptor Sir Tony Cragg.
Cherie Federico has been the driving force behind the Reignite series of events in York focused on nurturing the future of the city’s creative industries. The sixth edition, Reignite VI: Culture Makes Places, will take place during the festival and EXPO, when York will be full of local, national and international attendees.
Representatives from three UNESCO Cities of Media Arts – Braga (Portugal), Linz (Austria) and Oulu (Finland) – will share how they leverage culture to drive transformative change in their cities.
This forum will be a chance to discover how culture enhances economic development, creates jobs and offers skills and opportunities for young people, “fostering growth and innovation across the urban ecosystem”.
The event will be opened by David Skaith, Mayor of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, and addressed by Cherie. Presentations from each city will explore their unique approaches, followed by a panel discussion.
“I’ve been looking to raise the profile of the creative industries through the series of Reignite events, bringing all the different sectors together,” says Cherie. “We should use this UNESCO designation to elevate all of us, and with this year being the tenth anniversary of that designation we needed to celebrate that landmark and highlight the businesses of the future in York.
“That’s the purpose of the EXPO, where all are welcome to attend for free. To me, we should be focusing not on what there isn’t but what there is in York, and this is an opportunity for creative industries to make transformative changes.”
Cherie brings the positivity of New York – her home before settling in York 20 years ago – to her artistic pursuits. “If you beat yourself down, you’re going to be down. If you approach things with that mentality, you’re stuck in the past, but you have to give the creative industries the chance to rise because that attitude becomes infectious.
“People want things to change. This is a city that had nine million visitors in 2023; a city with history but modern culture too. We need to be living in a city that celebrates not just that cultural impact but the economic impact too because it boosts all sectors.”
Why will admission to the EXPO be free? “We want everyone in the city and beyond to be able to understand what it means to be a UNESCO City of Media Arts,” reasons Cherie. “This is the perfect time to highlight it, during an international film festival, when so many people will be coming to York already.”
For more details of the EXPO, head to: https://mediacityexpo.com/.
Aesthetica director Cherie Federico: Why UNESCO City of Media Arts status “positions York at the forefront of global creative discussions”
Cherie Federico
“YORK’S designation as a UNESCO City of Media Arts has profoundly impacted the city’s cultural and economic landscape, fostering a dynamic ecosystem where creativity, technology and education intersect.
“As an emerging sector, media arts is gaining momentum, creating pathways for future careers and educational opportunities. This designation not only attracts investment and talent but also positions York as a hub for digital innovation and creative industries, which benefits tourism, hospitality, retail and other sectors across the economy.
“Celebrating the tenth anniversary of York’s UNESCO designation marks a significant milestone, symbolising a decade of transformation driven by the media arts. Over these ten years, the designation has strengthened York’s global reputation, supporting local economic growth by driving job creation and developing crucial skills for the creative industries.
“The status encourages collaboration between cultural organisations, educational institutions and businesses, creating an environment where new ideas and projects can thrive. This collaborative culture is vital for retaining graduates and attracting skilled workers, making the city increasingly appealing to young talent and creatives from around the world.
“Additionally, the focus on media arts extends beyond economic impact, enhancing social cohesion and community involvement through cultural programming. Events, festivals and exhibitions celebrate new talent while promoting international collaboration, thus enriching York’s artistic landscape.
“The upcoming UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO, part of Reignite VI: Culture Makes Places, exemplifies this commitment to cultural exchange. Held at the Guildhall, the EXPO will showcase cutting-edge exhibits from the creative industries, which celebrates the sector’s potential by exploring how media arts contributes to sustainable urban transformation.
“As the event coincides with the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival, it positions York at the forefront of global creative discussions, drawing attention to the city’s evolving cultural scene.
“As a regional city, York recognises the need to operate on a national and international level to maximise the benefits of its UNESCO status. With over eight million visitors annually, the city is well positioned to reach beyond its borders, leveraging its unique offer — a blend of historic charm and modern creativity.”
Underscoring this ambition, Cherie says: “The economic potential of the creative sector on our city is phenomenal, and everyone benefits.
“The tenth anniversary celebrations, including Reignite VI and the UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO, are pivotal in showcasing how cultural programming can propel York’s ambitions forward, driving growth and innovation while fostering a sense of shared purpose and a forward-thinking city.
“By investing in media arts and embracing its UNESCO designation, York aims not only to maintain its status as a leading cultural destination but also to expand its influence globally, ensuring a prosperous and inclusive future for the city.
“These efforts will help York aspire to more than just a visitor destination, transforming it into a thriving centre for creativity, education and economic development that stands out on the world stage.”
Did you know?
IN 2023, the Aesthetica Short Film Festival welcomed more than 26,000 visitors, bringing a £2 million economic boost to York.