Medieval music from one of Europe's experts for final Alwinton concert

The concert takes place on Saturday, July 6, at St Michaels and All Angels Church, Alwinton, with the Orlando Consort performing.

Artistic director John Casken said: “The fine acoustic of St Michael and All Angels, Awinton is an ideal setting for the Orlando Consort, one of the world’s leading choral ensembles, to bring their renowned and authoritative performances of music of this period, music that still sounds fresh and new to our ears.”

Members of local choirs will join the Orlandos in a concert that traces the journey of a monk known as Anonymous IV as he travels through Britain to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris where he immerses himself in the great polyphonic tradition led by Perotinus, whose magnificent motet Viderunt Omnes is included in the concert.

The Orlando’s seductive and virtuosic polyphony will alternate with medieval plainsong sung by those who will have worked with the Orlando Consort in an afternoon workshop.

The Orlando Consort has made an international reputation in the field of medieval and renaissance vocal music and, though the group’s imaginative programming, also embraces jazz, film and world music.

The Consort regularly tours throughout the UK, Europe and the USA (including BBC Proms, Carnegie Hall, Edinburgh and Lucerne Festivals) and has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon and Harmonia Mundi USA (including two Gramophone Awards). The Consort is currently recording a 12-disc Machaut project with Hyperion Records.

Formed in 1988 by the Early Music Network of Great Britain, the Orlando Consort rapidly achieved a reputation as one of Europe’s most expert and consistently challenging groups performing repertoire from 1050 to 1550. Their work successfully combines captivating entertainment and fresh scholarly insight; the unique imagination and originality of their programming together with their superb vocal skills has marked the Consort out as the outstanding leaders of their field. The Consort has performed at many of Britain’s top festivals and has in recent years made visits to numerous countries around the world.

The concert will start at 7.30pm at St Michael and All Angels Church in Alwinton.

Tickets are available from £13 at www.alwintonconcerts.org with children’s tickets free.