Renaissance: Lamenta

The rich spread of sixteenth century choral music in miniature, in a short concert given by five singers from Renaissance: Camilla Harris, Jessica Gillingwater, Hugo Hymas, David Le Prevost and Ben Rowarth.

Renaissance: Media Vita

The young vocal ensemble Renaissance, directed by Ben Rowarth, captivated the audience in St Cuthbert’s chapel at Ushaw College with a programme built around John Sheppard’s stunning motet “Media Vita”.

Renaissance Remembrance

Ben Rowarth and Renaissance returned to Durham last night with an emotionally intense reflection on war and grief that set Alsonso Lobo’s glorious Lamentations against harrowing British and French music.

Renaissance – Christus Natus Est

Ben Rowarth and his choir, Renaissance, jumped ahead of the Christmas starting gun, sneaking their “Christus Natus Est” concert in just a few days before Advent Sunday. And what a lovely way to start the hectic Christmas season, with calm, cool singing and an imaginative programme.

My pick of Christmas Concerts

Now that St Matthew Passion is over and done with, and the stirring-up has been done, it’s time to clear my head and start thinking about Christmas. We don’t have a Christmas concert of our own this year, because St Matthew came so late in November, although we are doing a small carol service in […]

Renaissance in Hexham

Hexham’s annual Festival of Music and Arts ended in style last night, with a candlelit concert in the Abbey, with music by Britten, Purcell and others, performed by a very fine group of young singers, accompanied on baroque instruments, and conducted by Martin Neary. This is one of those reviews where I have to add […]