BREMF has once again delivered a stellar season of musical events, staying true to its mission of unearthing forgotten treasures, championing emerging talent, and bringing world-class early music performers to Brighton.
BREMF's tribute concert celebrates musical controversy and lasting legacy
What an absolute pleasure to welcome La Fonte Musica back to Brighton for this deeply moving evening at the Brighton Early Music Festival. This concert, made possible through a generous bequest from BREMF's late artistic director Deborah Roberts, perfectly embodied her twin passions: Monteverdi's revolutionary music and fostering vital connections between Brighton audiences and performers from across Europe.
This performance of Monteverdi’s Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda – a dramatic and heart-wrenching narrative of romantic love forged amidst religious conflict with the programme's first half delved into some of Monteverdi's most celebrated madrigals, chosen specifically to illuminate one of early music's juiciest controversies. The ensemble explored works that scandalised theorist Giovanni Maria Artusi, a staunch defender of traditional counterpoint. In his 1600 treatise Artusi threw shade at what he considered errors in these 'modern' compositions—that assaulted the ear. The notorious passage with its unprepared ninth and seventh, was performed with exquisite precision. History, of course, sided with Monteverdi's genius over Artusi's conservatism, and hearing these passages brought to life allowed us to marvel at the composer's daring.
'La Sera del Combattimento' proved a magnificent attempt to recreate the wonder and emotion of that extraordinary 1624 premiere, when these madrigals and the Combattimento were first performed together. The evening's centrepiece, The Battle of Tancredi and Clorinda, was given a controlled and contemplative performance —though perhaps the work's inherent dramatic power lends itself naturally to this thoughtful approach. The tenor brought energy to the battle narrative. His delivery of the text during the combat sequences between the two warriors was striking. The instrumental writing brilliantly mirrored the clash of steel—Monteverdi's groundbreaking use of notated pizzicato, the first time any composer had specified this technique in a score, brought visceral immediacy to the duelling scene.
See the full programme of the evening here:
The evening concluded with a touching surprise: a brief Salve performed in memory of Deborah. What a perfect tribute—simple, heartfelt, and utterly fitting for someone who gave so much to this musical community.
BREMF has once again delivered a stellar season of musical events, staying true to its mission of unearthing forgotten treasures, championing emerging talent, and bringing world-class early music performers to Brighton. The festival's gift for placing these artists thoughtfully in the city's underappreciated venues continues to delight. BREMF remains Brighton's cultural heartbeat through the autumn months, and this year's theme of LOVE deserves to be returned to the entire team sevenfold.
Their next offering, Christmas a Cappella with BREMF Consort of Voices, takes place at St Martin's Church on Saturday 13 December at 6pm. Tickets go on sale via BREMF from 1 November—don't miss it.
