Prepare for Next Year's Festival: 12 - 21 June 2025

Date

Friday, 23rd June 2023

Time

7:30 pm

Venue

St Andrew’s Church, Aldborough, YO51 9EP

Sponsored By

A towering masterpiece of the early Baroque and one of the greatest pillars of music history, Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 offers a stunning array of brilliant instrumental writing, opulent choruses and moving arias.  Over 400 years ago this astounding work marked the end of the Renaissance and the beginning of the Baroque. The publication in 1610 almost certainly helped Monteverdi gain the prestigious post of maestro di cappella at St Mark’s in Venice, which he kept until his death in 1643.

Critically acclaimed choir and instrumental ensemble Armonico Consort entertains audiences across the country with its high quality concerts, outstanding recordings and innovative projects. Drawing on the passions of forward-thinking founder and artistic director Christopher Monks, our professional singers and musicians perform inspiring programmes, spanning the Baroque to the present day.

 Armonico Consort began life in 2001, set up by Christopher Monks and a group of university colleagues with a shared passion for music from the Renaissance to Baroque, coupled with the imagination to find new and unusual ways to present concerts. Audiences seemed to love their engaging and imaginative approach, and most concerts in the first years sold out.

Having now reached their 20th birthday year, Armonico Consort intend to celebrate as any reckless 20-year old might. Celebrations to mark this milestone have included the restaging of some of their favourite concert programmes such as the 53-part Missa Salisburgensis by Heinrich Biber, and a performance of Carmina Burana at the Royal Albert Hall. Upcoming highlights of the season include a tour and brand-new recording of newly edited 16-part works by Francesco Scarlatti, which saw them perform their Wigmore Hall debut back in 2003, St John Passion with Ian Bostridge, a world premiere of ‘It Takes a City’ at the Royal Albert Hall, a new work by Toby Young about the importance of family and community as well as a special programme alongside this to honour the Queen, the Commonwealth and the communities within it. They will also bring another unique performance to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in the upcoming summer months. In addition to this, they are beginning a major new partnership with Foundaçion Azteca in Mexico which will see them train new choir leaders across Mexico working with the Orchestra of the Americas to create the first high level symphony orchestra and chorus in the country.

Having now reached their 20th birthday year, Armonico Consort intend to celebrate as any reckless 20-year old might. Celebrations to mark this milestone have included the restaging of some of their favourite concert programmes such as the 53-part Missa Salisburgensis by Heinrich Biber, and a performance of Carmina Burana at the Royal Albert Hall. Upcoming highlights of the season include a tour and brand-new recording of newly edited 16-part works by Francesco Scarlatti, which saw them perform their Wigmore Hall debut back in 2003, St John Passion with Ian Bostridge, a world premiere of ‘It Takes a City’ at the Royal Albert Hall, a new work by Toby Young about the importance of family and community as well as a special programme alongside this to honour the Queen, the Commonwealth and the communities within it. They will also bring another unique performance to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in the upcoming summer months. In addition to this, they are beginning a major new partnership with Foundaçion Azteca in Mexico which will see them train new choir leaders across Mexico working with the Orchestra of the Americas to create the first high level symphony orchestra and chorus in the country.
The Vespers of 1610 was the work that turned my musical life upside-down when I first heard and studied it at the age of 16. …It completely blew me away. All that I thought of as important before then was thrown out of the window.”

CHRISTOPHER MONKS, Conductor

THE TIMES
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