Trinity Laban

10th Anniversary!

Greenwich International Early Music Festival & Exhibition

11-13 November 2011

"The weekend has become an institution in London cultural life not to be missed, that will predictably prosper in the coming years, and will hopefully remain as multi-faceted and full of surprises as it is now"  - Classical Source

The Greenwich International Early Music Festival and Exhibition celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a fascinating programme of concerts, masterclasses, competitions, the world's largest early music fair and a live broadcast from BBC Radio 3's Early Music Show. The festival will feature performances from some of the biggest names on the early music scene including L'Arpeggiata,  Red Priest and Pantagruel. The prestigious exhibition held in the Queen Mary Undercroft and the stunning Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College will showcase the work of over 100 international instrument makers, with skilled demonstration recitals on the hour throughout the festival. Delivered in partnership by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, The Early Music Shop and the Old Royal Naval College, this unique event has proved an essential fixture on the early music calendar.

On Friday 11 November, the Festival will kick off with a free masterclass featuring Trinity Laban music students lead by recorder virtuoso Piers Adams and other members of the energetic early music ensemble Red Priest (10.30-13.00). This will be followed by Trinity Laban's Classical Orchestra performing a programme of early classical repertoire, directed from the keyboard by leading fortepianist and Trinity Laban professor Steven Devine at St Alfege's Parish Church (13.00-14.00). Later in the afternoon, winners of the Trinity Laban Early Music Prize 2011 Ensemble Tramontana will fill the air with medieval and renaissance songs infused with themes of madness, love and faraway lands (15.00-16.00).

International ensemble Pantagruel will perform Ballads, Ayres and Dances from 17th Century Scotland, combining musicological research with their extensive experience which spans rock, jazz, theatre and dance (17.45-19.00). Through their innovative use of medley, improvisation and gesture, audiences are transported to a world of Renaissance passion and adventure. The evening will end with a colourful Baroque Carnival as Red Priest perform music by Handel, Vivaldi and Telemann in the Old Royal Naval College Chapel (19.45-21.45). The extraordinary foursome has been compared to Cirque de Soleil and the Rolling Stones as they breathe new life into early music with their endless vitality and devil-may-care attitude.

"Extends the very limits of virtuosity ... for sheer imagination it's unbeatable" - BBC Music Magazine.

On Saturday 12 November Trinity Laban's Early Music Vocal Ensemble will perform an enchanting programme of double choir motets by Bach's ancestors directed by established counter-tenor and Trinity Laban professor Tim Travers-Brown in the Old Royal Naval College Chapel (11.30-12.30).  BBC Radio 3 will be broadcasting their Early Music Show live from King William Undercroft (13.00-14.00). The show will feature music and news from this year's exhibition. Limited free admission included with an exhibition ticket. This will be followed by a performance of Baroque repertoire by the fresh young faces of Junior Trinity, Trinity Laban's Saturday school for musicians aged 3-19 years (14.30-15.30).

Recorder virtuoso Matthias Maute will perform an engaging programme of trio sonatas and solos with violist and Trinity Laban alumnus Ibi Aziz and fellow recorder professional Emma Murphy in St Alfege's Parish Church (17.45-19.00). Finishing off the evening will be the outstanding European baroque and folk ensemble L'Arpeggiata directed by theorbo soloist Christina Pluhar. This diverse ensemble, featuring baroque guitar/chitarra battente, bass, percussion, cornet and psaltery, perform to sell out concerts throughout Europe and have received awards including the Echo Klassik Preis (Germany) and the Edison Classic Prize (Holland). Their albums All'Improvviso and Diapason Découverte were named CD of the Month in BBC Music Magazine and Italian magazine Amadeus, respectively.

On Sunday 13 November Trinity Laban music students will work with renowned English counter-tenor Jonathan Peter Kenny in a early voice masterclass (11.00-14.00). Experience a varied and inspirational programme of early recorder repertoire as performers from across Europe compete in the finals of the Moeck/SRP Solo Recorder Competition (13.30-17.30). The competition established in 1985 provides a crucial platform for aspiring recorder soloists and will this year be adjudicated by renowned performers Matthias Maute, Ibi Aziz and Emma Murphy.

Principal of Trinity Laban, Professor Anthony Bowne, said: "We are very much looking forward to being part of the Greenwich International Early Music Festival and Exhibition in this important 10th Anniversary year. A passion for early music has inspired many Trinity Laban graduates to success, and underpins our vision for the future training of young musicians. We are delighted that so many of our talented students will be participating in this year's performances, and know that the presence of Radio 3's Early Music Show demonstrates the growing respect for all that our partnership with the Early Music Shop and Greenwich Foundation has achieved in the past 10 years."

Early Music Shop General Manager, Peter Booth said: "The Early Music Shop organised the first 'London Exhibition of Early Musical Instruments' back in 1973. Over the years the event moved from one venue to another as the exhibition grew in stature and importance, and soon became widely recognised as 'The World's Largest Early Music Fair'. The move 10 years ago to Greenwich and subsequent change of name to Greenwich International Early Music Festival and Exhibition has been an overwhelming success, endorsed by both exhibitors and visitors alike. We look forward this year to thanking our many loyal followers by providing a spectacularly diverse programme of events in what promises to be an exceptionally exciting weekend."

Jeff Adamson, Director of Finance & Administration at ORNC said: "Old Royal Naval College is home to Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance which makes an important contribution to our year round programme of events. We are pleased to support the 10th annual Early Music Festival that will bring a wide range of international performers to Greenwich as well as showcasing the talent of a new generation of musicians. The Painted Hall and Chapel are contemporary with much of the repertoire that will be performed at the festival. It is fascinating to think that 200 years ago people could well have been hearing and enjoying this wonderful music in this glorious setting."

To book tickets for evening concerts in advance, please email emssales@earlymusicshop.com or call 01274 288 100. Other concerts are free or ticketed on the door.

Tickets to the exhibition are also available in advance and to celebrate the event's 10th Anniversary, a three day exhibition pass is available for £10 per ticket on purchases made before 4 November. For further information about the exhibition please visit earlymusicfestival.com

Friday 11 November

Exhibition
Instrument makers, music shops, publishers, recording companies, organisations and education
10.30h-18.00h
Painted Hall and Queen Mary Undercroft, ORNC
Adults £8.00, 2 day ticket - £13.00, 3 day ticket - £17.00; Children under 14 free

Masterclass - Red Priest
Piers Adams (recorder) and other members of Red Priest
10.30h-13.00h
Trinity, King Charles Court
Limited free admission

Trinity Laban Classical Orchestra
Early classical repertoire directed from the keyboard by Trinity Laban teacher Steven Devine.
13.00h-14.00h
St Alfege Parish Church
£3.00 on the door

Ensemble Tramontana
Winners of the Trinity Laban Early Music Prize 2011
15.00h-16.00h
Old Royal Naval College Chapel
£3.00 on the door

Pantagruel
Anna Maria Wierød (voice), Mark Wheeler (lute, cittern & gittern), Paulina van Laarhoven (viola da gamba and gittern)
17.45h-19.00h
St Alfege Parish Church
£12.00

Red Priest
Baroque Carnival - Music by Castello, Handel, Purcell, Schmelzer, Lanzetti, Vivaldi, Telemann and J.S.Bach
19.45h-21.45h
Old Royal Naval College Chapel
£15.00
 

Saturday 12 November

Exhibition
Instrument makers, music shops, publishers, recording companies, organisations and education
10.00h-18.00h 
Painted Hall and Queen Mary Undercroft, ORNC
Adults £8.00, 2 day ticket - £13.00, 3 day ticket - £17.00; Children under 14 free

Trinity Laban Early Music Vocal Ensemble
Directed by Tim Travers-Brown
11.30h-12.30h
Old Royal Naval College Chapel
£3.00 on the door

BBC Radio 3 - The Early Music Show Live
13.00h-14.00h
King William Undercroft, ORNC
Limited free admission with exhibition ticket

Junior Trinity
14.30h-15.30h 
Old Royal Naval College Chapel
£3.00 on the door

Matthias Maute with Ibi Aziz and Emma Murphy
17.45h-19.00h
St Alfege Parish Church
£12.00

L'Arpeggiata/Christina Pluhar
Italian baroque and folk songs
19.45h-21.45h
Old Royal Naval College Chapel
£25.00
 

Sunday 13 November

Exhibition
Instrument makers, music shops, publishers, recording companies, organisations and education
10.00h-17.30h
Painted Hall and Queen Mary Undercroft, ORNC
Adults £8.00, 2 day ticket - £13.00, 3 day ticket - £17.00; Children under 14 free

Remembrance Day Service
10.50h-12.15h
Old Royal Naval College Chapel
Free

Masterclass - counter tenor Jonathan Peter Kenny
11.00h-14.00h
Trinity, Kings Charles Court
Limited free admission

Moeck/SRP Solo Recorder Competition Finals
Adjudicators Matthias Maute, Ibi Aziz and Emma Murphy
13.30h-17.30h
Trinity, King Charles Court
Limited free admission