Armonico Consort celebrates a quarter century in September!
Our 25th anniversary celebration concert tour is imminent and we have a whole season of wonderful music to look forward to. Every concert holds a special meaning: we bring you a brand new surround-sound extravaganza, revisit some of our magnificent musical discoveries, and programme cherished works and perennial audience favourites. And we celebrate the continuing legacy of our education programme AC Academy and our Choir Creation scheme.
“25 years ago, on 21 September, I stood on a stage alongside a group of university friends, all of us taking our first steps into the professional music world. Beside us stood Dame Emma Kirkby. Our idea was a simple one: to perform together as friends, exploring new ways of bringing music to life and learning from one another as well as from exceptional artists.” Christopher Monks, Founder and Artistic Director of Armonico Consort
Audiences seemed to love the engaging and innovative approach, and most concerts in the first years sold out. “That gave us the confidence, energy and self-belief to do more; to take more risks with our programming and keep on experimenting” says Christopher.
One result was the ambitious, powerful and immersive ‘Supersize Polyphony’ concert format that has become Armonico’s signature programme: large-scale choral masterpieces performed in glorious ‘surround sound’ with the audience in the centre, enveloped by voices singing up to (and frequently exceeding) 40 individual parts. It’s an awesome experience.
Almost as famous for Christopher’s groan-inducing concert titles, it’s no surprise that Armonico’s brand new programme – which begins the anniversary season in Warwick on 26 September before touring – is called Supersize Polyphony: Venetian Blinders!
Alongside music by Monteverdi, it also explores Venice’s magnetic influence on European composers of the day with a rarely-heard work by Catalan Francisco Valls (Missa Scala Aretina a 16), and Thomas Tallis’s spectacular Spem in Alium.
Supersize Polyphony also gives a chance to engage with some of the young singers from Armonico’s thriving AC Academy education programme that spans after-school choirs, a Scholars programme, and an in-school Choir Creations scheme that has established and nurtured over 300 choirs and choir leaders to date.
They’ll learn elements of the Renaissance music and a world premiere by Hollywood composer David Buckley, to perform alongside the professionals.
Christopher Monks continues: “My musical journey stated with Monteverdi and the Venetian Schools. That has inspired so much of what we have gone on to develop at Armonico Consort and has never ceased to inspire me and our musicians.”
Another highlight of the 25th anniversary is a first Wigmore Hall performance of The Forgotten Scarlatti – works by Francesco Scarlatti, a neglected genius of the famous dynasty whose choral music Armonico has resurrected in newly-researched performing editions by Dr Geoffrey Webber. Armonico Consort have become leading experts on Francesco Scarlatti’s choral music and our recordings and performances of his Messa a 16, Dixit Dominus and oratorio Daniele, have achieved worldwide recognition.
Later in the Season, we revisit some of the works that have become cornerstones of our programmes over the past 25 years, including Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and St Matthew Passion (marking its 300th anniversary), Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and a concert of Mozart’s Requiem and Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with soloist Edmund Taylor (whose Bellot Ensemble is the current BBC New Generation Baroque Ensemble).
Along with continuing collaborations in Italy, Spain and Mexico, the 25th anniversary season is shaping up to be one of the busiest yet.
