Cellist Matthew Barley: Telling his Light Stories at the NCEM on May 18
THE National Centre for Early Music’s 25th anniversary spring season at St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York, is as close to opening as the new chorus of daffodils.
First up on March 4 will be multi-award-winning Portuguese fado singer LINA, who was recommended to NCEM director Delma Tomlin by colleagues at the University of Nottingham. “It will be a lively and entertaining night, promoting her extraordinary 2024 album, Fado Camões,” says Delma.
The 7.30pm concert will feature the poetry of Portuguese poet Luiz Vaz de Camões, adapted to traditional fado, in a multi-media performance with Ianina Khmelik on piano and synths and Pedro Viana on Portuguese guitar, complemented by videos on the big screen by Collective Of Two, lighting design by Tela Negra and live sound by Marco Silva. “Bring your best dancing feet,” advises Delma.
The University of York Baroque + Day will be held on March 8, presenting Ensemble Hesperi and rising star soprano Claire Ward at 12 noon, Consort Of Viols and SVES’s 2.30pm programme of reflective pavans and sorrowful songs and the University of York Baroque Ensemble & Ensemble Hesperi celebrating the musical tastes and talents of Queen Charlotte, Consort to George III, on International Women’s Day at 7.30pm.
Acoustic and slide folk guitarist Martin Simpson will return to the NCEM on March 22 for a typically intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving solo concert of interpretations of traditional songs, full of passion, sorrow, love, beauty tragedy and majesty. In the 18 years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, he has chalked up an unsurpassed 32 nominations, winning numerous awards.
Legendary Italian acoustic guitarist, composer and NCEM favourite Antonio Forcione will team up for the first time with Italian/Sardinian guitarist, composer and educator Giorgio Serci for a melodic 7.30pm programme on March 28.
Guitar virtuoso Martin Simpson: Returning to NCEM on March 22. Picture: Geoff Trinder
“Antonio performing with Giorgio will bring a different flavour,” says Delma. “Be prepared to both laugh and be moved as they celebrate the unexpected elements in life with delicacy, humour and, not least, passion.”
Triptic is the post-Moishe’s Bagel band formed by former members Phil Alexander, Greg Lawson and Mario Caribe, who explore a shared love of folk music in their new project that will head to the NCEM on April 6 at 6.30pm.
Dramatic tango meets joyful klezmer and folk-infused originals, wrapped up in irresistible jazz and Latin grooves, played on violin, piano, bass, mandolin, accordion and guitar, as they seek uncharted musical pathways. Unleashing their energy and passion on a new set of compositions, they also set their sights on music from Armenia to Sao Paolo with many melodic stops along the way.
Seven-piece band Hejira will be celebrating Joni Mitchell’s late-1970s “jazz period” in a return visit to the NCEM on April 10 at 7.30pm. Hattie Whitehead, Ollie Weston, Chris Eldred, Pete Oxley, Dave Jones, Rick Finlay, Marc Cecil and Rob Harbron will focus on the Canadian singer-songwriter’s albums The Hissing Of Summer Lawns, Hejira, Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter and Mingus.
Mitchell toured with jazz luminaries Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Michael Brecker, Jaco Pastorius and Don Alias in a brief collaboration that elicited the live album Shadows And Light, the primary source of inspiration for Hejira’s repertoire.
Trumpet player Jay Phelps and his band of supreme British talent will bring together the best of Miles Davis from 1958 and 1959 on April 24 (7.30pm), drawing on material from ’58 Miles and the iconic Kind Of Blue, the ground-breaking, improvisational “world’s greatest jazz album of all time”.
“We’re delighted that Jay also will be working with young jazz players from the York Music Forum Jazz Ensemble, run by Ian Chance,” says Delma.”Ian is building up the ensemble again after the exit of A-level students, and as we continue to develop our relationship with them, we hope they’ll be able to work with jazz guitarist Martin Taylor later in the season. We know the jazz stars so enjoy sharing the stage with these young talents.”
Hejira: Honouring Joni Mitchell’s late-1970s “jazz period” on April 10
Anglo-Irish band Flook are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, touring the NCEM on May 4 at 6.30pm with a line-up of Brian Finnegan, whistles and flutes, Sarah Allen, flutes and accordion, Ed Boyd, guitar, and John Joe Kelly, bodhran.
Silent film pianist Jonny Best will bring Rupert Julian’s 1925 horror movie Phantom Of The Opera newly alive with a new improvised score as Northern Silents mark the 100th anniversary of one of the silent screen’s most beautiful creations, a dark love story starring Lon Chaney and Mary Philbin, on May 6 from 7.30pm to 9pm.
Chaney experimented for two years with metal hooks, wax, putty and paint to create the skull-like appearance that terrified audiences a century ago.
The NCEM Young Composers Award 2025, presented by the NCEM in tandem with BBC Radio 3 and The Brook Street Band , will climax with the live final on May 15 at 7pm.
On May 18, Light Stories will tell the story of classical cellist Matthew Barley’s life through music and projected imagery – by video designers Yeast Culture – as he narrates his search for meaning in music-making and how, in time, he came to heal past wounds.
His 6.30pm performance will incorporate pieces by Joby Talbot, Anna Meredith, John Metcalfe and Bach, together with new woks by Barley, connected by moments of improvisation and electronics.
Lon Chaney in Phantom Of The Opera, presented by Northern Silents on May 6. Picture: from Northern Silents
“Matthew has branched out into multi-media, focusing on health and wellbeing and how you can use music to help your recovery,” says Delma. “It’s a performance about his personal issues and how he came out the other side, and a show like this is part of our wider brief.”
The NCEM will present three York Festival of Ideas events: Sam Kelly &The Lost Boys on June 7 at 7.30pm; OAE Tots’ enchanting story of magic spells and much mischief, Spin, Spin A Story on June 8 at 4pm and the Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment’s version of The Fairy Queen: Three Wishes, a huge party in a magical forest, on June 11 at 6pm (at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, please note).
Guitarist Martin Taylor and rising British jazz singer Alison Burns will perform songs from their duo album Songs For Nature, mixing the Great American Songbook with contemporary material, on June 18 at 7.30pm.
The spring season will close with the NCEM debut of husband-and-wife duo Kamaljeet Ahluwalia, on santoor, and Jas Ahluwalia, on tabla, in their Absolute Focus concert on June 22 at 6.30pm, staged in partnership with SAA/UK.
“We have worked with these partners for many years, and this concert makes a very nice conclusion to the season,” says Delma. “It will work very well at the NCEM, where we can accommodate the obligatory large carpet!”
Reflecting on the season as a whole, Delma says: “The diversity of our programme is important to us, in part because we’re always committed to presenting artists from other parts of the world – and our audiences seem to be keen to give music from all over the world a go.”
Tickets are on sale on 01904 658338 and at ncem.co.uk.
Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, to be found at NCEM on June 7
Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment: Opening the 2021 York Early Music Christmas Festival with two sold-out concerts on December 3
YORK Early Music Christmas Festival will be back in full swing this season, combining live concerts with a later online programme of festive music.
Running from December 3 to 11, then on demand from December 17 to January 14, the festival promises Christmas carols, candlelight, Vivaldi, Corelli, Bach, Handel, Purcell, Schubert, mulled wine, mince pies and Mexican melodies.
In the medieval St Margaret’s Church, in Walmgate, this celebration of Advent and the festive season will go ahead with Covid safety measures in place: seating will be socially distanced and proof of two Covid vaccinations or a negative Lateral Flow Test will be required. “No proof, no admission,” will be the strict policy, and the wearing of masks will be actively encouraged too.
To adapt to the prevailing circumstances and smaller capacities, five of the festive programmes will be performed twice, at 5.30pm and the more conventional 7.45pm.
“The philosophy is short concerts, no interval, and still selling to a limited capacity, so that people feel more comfortable because there’s more room and they don’t have to spend too much time together indoors in winter,” says festival director Delma Tomlin.
“In dark December, earlier evening concerts will appeal to a certain demographic, who can get home in good time for supper. It’s all about understanding people’s wishes as we return to going to concerts, and it’s much more practical to do two concerts in an evening, as we don’t have the same level of visitors for afternoon concerts.”
La Palatine: French songs of love, betrayal, disenchantment and loss on December 4
Looking forward to a festival with plenty of concerts sold out already, Delma says: “Christmas in most circles is a time for celebrations, a time of fanfare, ceremony and feasting. At the heart of the celebrations is a very human story which is often so beautifully illustrated through music, and we invite you to find peace, serenity, alongside mince pies and mulled wine at this busy time – and to enjoy some really fabulous music too!
“There is 500 years’ worth of glorious Advent, Christmas and winter music to go at, and frankly we all need a bit of cheering up right now.”
Opening festival proceedings will be an ever innovative, entertaining and engaging British ensemble, the Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, whose 5.30pm and 7.45pm performances of A Baroque Christmas on December 3 have both sold out. Concertos by Corelli, Manfredini, Torelli and Vivaldi will be complemented by Handel’s Pastorelle from Messiah and works by D Scarlatti and JS Bach.
Replacing Ensemble Caladrius’s O Magum Mysterium in the festival’s first NCEM Platform Artists’ concert on December 4 at 12.15pm will be French ensemble La Palatine, presenting Il n’y a pas d’amour heureux.
The raw emotions of love, betrayal, disenchantment and loss infuse the songs and opera arias of the early baroque in Italy, as explored by Marie Theoleyre, soprano, Noemie Lenhof, viola da gamba, Jeremy Nastasi, theorbo and baroque guitar, and Guillaume Haldenwang, harpsichord, in the works of Tarquinio Merula of Cremona, Domenico Mazzocchi in Rome and Claudio Moneteverdi’s Lamento d’Arianna.
Travelling further afield, the festival takes a Mexican theme with Siglo de Oro’s Christmas In Puebla, a sold-out 6.30pm concert on December 4 that evokes the spirit of the warm breezes of South America, on Christmas Eve in Puebla Cathedral, blending dance-infused villancicos with traditional 17th century carols under the direction of Patrick Allies.
Siglo de Oro: Mexican melodies
“This will be Siglo de Oro’s York debut,” says Delma. “Somewhat delayed, though, because they were supposed to be here two years ago.”
York favourites The Gesualdo Six return to the NCEM once more, this time with In Winter’s House, on December 5 at 5.30pm (sold out) and 7.45pm (tickets still available). Director Owain Park’s programme of music evokes a sense of mystery and joy, from works of the Tudor church to the 21st century by Judith Bingham, Joanna Marsh and Sally Beamish. “They will be wallowing in the deliciousness of both old and new music,” says Delma
The second NCEM Platform Artists’ concert, supported by the NCEM’s Creative Europe-funded programme EEEmerging, will be given by Prisma, a German ensemble comprising Franciska Anna Hadju, violin, Elisabeth Champolion, recorder, Alon Sariel, lute, and David Budai, viola da gamba, on December 7 at 5.30pm and 7.45pm. “They’re so much fun, so cheerful, and a very delightful group to welcome at Christmas,” says Delma.
Their programme, A Baroque Christmas, will be wrapped around baroque trio sonatas and dances, inviting the audience to rediscover Christmas songs by Castello and Fantana in fresh arrangements laced with joie de vivre.
Pocket Sinfonia’s Mozart And A Miracle concert, on December 9 at 5.30pm and 7.45pm, aims to re-create the atmosphere of 19th century living-room parties, where the intimacy of a chamber music performance was applied to orchestral-scale pieces.
Rosie Bowker, flute, Eleanor Corr, violin, Thomas Isaac, cello, and Emil Duncumb, piano and fortepiano, will be taking a journey through the dark wintery nights of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, onwards to the Christmas cheer of Mozart’s Sleigh Ride, in a new Pocket Sinfonia transcription, and Haydn’s Miracle Symphony No. 102 in B flat.
Pocket Sinfonia: Dark journey through wintery nights
“Two members of the ensemble are from Norway, with dual nationality, and they’ll be making their debut here after I saw them on Zoom in a showcase they did in Brussels last year, and booked them on the strength of that,” says Delma.
Tenor James Gilchrist and lutenist Matthew Wadsworth reflect on love, passion and loss in Divine Love And Earthly Passions on December 10 at 5.30pm and 7.45pm, as they open with Purcell’s Evening Hymn and close with Dowland’s In Darkness Let Me Dwell on their thoughtful, sometimes melancholic, always engaging journey, with a sprinkling of Schubert and Praetorius as a taster of the festivities to come.
In A Contest Of Equals, on December 11 at 1pm, Bojan Cicic, violin, Gawain Glenton, cornetto, and Silas Wellston, organ, celebrate the late-16th and 17th century rivalry between the violin, the irreverent newcomer, and the cornetto, the older, aristocratic instrument, with music from Italy, Germany and Spain. Who will emerge victorious? Let Battaglia! commence.
The 2021 live festival concludes on December 11 with Yorkshire Bach Choir’s 7pm to 10pm performance of J S Bach’s Mass in B minor with the Yorkshire Baroque Soloists under conductor Peter Seymour. On solo duty will be Bethany Seymour, soprano, Helen Charlston, alto, Matthew Long, tenor, and Johnny Herford, bass.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to hear the Yorkshire Bach Choir again at the festival after two years, and especially to hear them doing the Bach mass,” says Delma. “It’s such a cracking piece.”
Joglaresa: Carols, lullabies, dance tunes and wassails
In addition, but separate from the festival, Joglaresa will be presenting Lullay Myn Lykynge, a stand-alone concert on Monday, December 6 at 5.30pm and 7.45pm, complemented by a live-streaming of the second performance.
Their programme will offer encouragement to celebrate Yule effervescently and chase out the chill from the Celtic fringes of Europe with traditional carols, lullabies, dance tunes and wassails from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Armed with fidel, harp, bells, bagpipes and voices, Joglaresa will be ringing in Christmas and the New Year.
Tickets remain available for concerts unless stated otherwise at ncem.co.uk/york-early-music-christmas-festival/ and on 01904 658338.
IN the York Christmas Box Set, seven concerts from the 2021 York Early Music Christmas Festival will be available to watch online throughout the festive season.
Billed as “the perfect festive gift for music lovers” by the National Centre for Early Music, the £40 filmed concert package can be viewed on demand from 10am on December 17 to Friday, January 14.
First prompted by pandemic restrictions, the NCEM continues to share many of its festival highlights online, reaching ever-growing audiences from as far away as Japan and Australia.
The seven festival highlights in the box set are:
Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, performing A Baroque Christmas;
Siglo de Oro, celebrating Christmas with dance-infused 17th century Mexican music;
The Gesualdo Six, returning to York after sold-out summer concerts to present In Winter’s House, Christmas music spanning many decades;
Prisma: Baroque joy in the York Christmas Box Set
EEEmerging artistsPrisma, bringing Baroque joy with fresh arrangements of Christmas music;
Pocket Sinfonia, conjuring up the atmosphere of 19th century living-room parties with Mozart and more;
Festival favourites James Gilchrist & Matthew Wadsworth, performing Divine Love And Earthly Passions, featuring music by Purcell, Schubert and Dowland;
Battaglia, the combative trio of Bojan Čičić, Gawain Glenton and Silas Wollston, staging an exuberant musical battle between the violin and cornetto, once considered rival instruments.
Festival director Delma Tomlin says: “We’re delighted to be able to bring you this fabulous array of concerts online with this wonderful Christmas Box Set, filmed at our home of St Margaret’s Church during this year York Early Music Christmas Festival.
“We’re continuing to share our music online, so those of you who aren’t able to join us in York will be able to enjoy this fabulous feast of music in the comfort of your own homes – and it’s the perfect gift to share with family and friends.
“We hope that our online friends will enjoy seeing the beautiful surroundings of our medieval home and we hope to welcome them in person in the future.”
For tickets and more information, go to: ncem.co.uk/events/york-christmas-at-home-festival-pass/
“Financial help from the ARG Fund ensures that we can stage the annual York Early Music Christmas Festival,” says director Delma Tomlin
THE National Centre for Early Music, York, has received a “generous grant” from the City of York Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant fund to help with the cost of staging this year’s York Early Music Christmas Festival.
This discretionary scheme supports York businesses affected by the lockdowns but not eligible for Lockdown Restrictions Grant and the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) payments, thereby helping businesses that, while not legally required to close, were still severely impacted by Covid-19 restrictions.
In keeping with other arts organisations, the NCEM was forced to close its doors for several months but it continued to stage concerts and festivals digitally, sharing specially commissioned concerts all over the world, reaching audiences from as far away as Australia, Japan and the United States.
The return of a week-long York Early Music Christmas Festival from December 3 is one of the NCEM’S most important and high-profile events, attracting not only York residents but also audiences from all over Britain and beyond.
The NCEM, at St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, is fully open once more, staging its year-round programme of concerts, not only Early Music, but jazz, folk and world music too.
NCEM director Delma Tomlin says: “We’re delighted to receive this generous grant from the City of York Council. Financial help from the ARG Fund ensures that we can stage the annual York Early Music Christmas Festival, a week of music celebration featuring a line-up of world-class performers.
“The festival is hugely popular with residents and attracts visitors from all over the UK, who make it part of their Christmas calendar. It’s wonderful to see the city coming back to life and we’re very proud to be able to be part of its fabulous programme of events celebrating the festive season. We can’t wait to welcome audiences back to our beautiful home of St Margaret’s Church.”
Councillor Derek Smalley, executive member for culture, leisure and communities, says: “York’s live music scene is a crucial and vibrant part of the city’s cultural offer. We recognise the ongoing challenges venues are facing as we ease out of the national restrictions and people get used to a new ‘normal’.
“We are committed to working with the sector to provide all possible support, including promoting the great experiences on our doorstep thanks to the many brilliant live music venues across our city.”
L’Apothéose in the grounds of the National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, York, in 2019. Picture: Jim Poyner
CALLING young ensembles of the world: the deadline for applications for next year’s York International Young Artists Competition is January 14 2022.
This prestigious longstanding competition for young ensembles will take place on Saturday, July 16 at the National Centre for Early Music as part of next summer’s York Early Music Festival.
The first prize includes a recording contract from Linn Records: a £1,000 prize; opportunities to work with BBC Radio 3 and a concert at the 2023 York Early Music Festival.
Other prizes include: the Friends of York Early Music Festival Prize; the Cambridge Early Music Prize and a prize for The Most Promising Young Artist/s endowed by the EUBO Development Trust.
The competition is open to Early Music ensembles with a minimum of three members; ensembles must have an average age of 33 years or under, with a maximum age of 37 years for individuals.
The ensembles must demonstrate historically informed performance practice and play repertory from any period, spanning the Middle Ages to the 19th century, on period instruments.
The competition is recognised as a major international platform for emerging talent in the world of early music. Attracting musicians from all over the globe, it offers a boost to young professional careers with opportunities for performance, recording and broadcasting and international exposure.
NCEM director Delma Tomlin says: “We are so pleased to be staging the 2022 competition, which brings together young musicians of the highest calibre from the UK and all over the world.
“This is one of highlights of the York Early Music Festival and we are always overwhelmed by the superb quality of the performances from these fantastically talented young artists. The competition provides a joyous, optimistic finale to our festival and we are delighted to be able give these rising stars many exciting future opportunities.”
2019 winners L’Apothéose say: “Winning the York competition was an extremely important and prestigious recognition of our career, and taking part was an immensely joyful experience.”
Fellow former winners Sollazzo Ensemble enthuse: “Winning the competition was a turning point in our career, bringing us to the attention of both a wider audience and professionals throughout Europe.”
Details of how to apply can be found at yorkcomp.ncem.co.uk; alternatively, send an email to yorkcomp@ncem.co.uk.
