The National Centre for Early Music announces the programme for York Early Music Festival 2025, taking place from 4 – 11 July with highlights including the York debut of the French based orchestral ensemble Le Consort presenting their truly exceptional rendition of Vivaldi’s famous Four Seasons – but not quite as you know it!
Overall the festival weaves together three main strands: we celebrate the anniversary of Renaissance composer Orlando Gibbons; the genius of the Baroque with music of Vivaldi and Bach; and we reflect on the story of Man’s fall from grace from Heaven to Hell!
The festival opens with the internationally acclaimed viol consort Fretwork working with BBC New Generation Artist Helen Charlston focusing on Orlando Gibbons and closes with the Academy of Ancient Music, led by violinist Bojan Čičić, in a celebration of Bach’s violin concertos.
Guest artists also include The Tallis Scholars (Sat 5) and The Sixteen (Mon 7) sharing their programmes in the glorious surroundings of York Minster; the Spanish ensemble Cantoria (Tues 8) presenting a sizzling array of ensaladas and villancicos in a programme called ¡A La Fiesta!; and Swiss based medievalists Sollazzo (Thurs 10) return to York for the first time since winning a prestigious Diapason d’Or award.
York Early Music Festival is proud to support emerging musicians and this year two of the winners from last year’s York Early Music Festival Young Artists Competition Ayres Extemporae and Ensemble Bastion will be performing in York.
Once again, the festival showcases a variety of the city’s beautiful historic buildings including the magnificent Minster, the medieval masterpiece that is the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, and the intriguing hidden architectural gem Bedern Hall.
