A small number of ensembles in the UK have begun to experiment with using natural trumpets [i.e. without finger holes], although it is still relatively uncommon. It was great to take part in a project that offered enough rehearsal time to develop and explore playing without holes in an ensemble setting; playing some of the repertoire that is thought to have inspired Johann Sebastian Bach. The project,

It was a great pleasure to rejoin Robert Hollingworth's I Fagiolini for a performance of Monteverdi's Orfeo at the Stour Music Festival at All Saints Church near Boughton Aluph (near Ashford in Kent) on Friday 28th June 2019.The 2019 festival marks the departure of Stour Music's artistic director Mark Deller (countertenor). He will be succeeded by Robert Hollingworth who will direct future festivals,

I Fagiolini’s interpretation of L’Orfeo, with Matthew Long in the starring role, began in Venice in November 2015 and has seen subsequent performances in London (May 2017), Purbeck (June 2017) and Cheltenham (July 2017) since then.The most recent performance took place in Antwerp in Belgium. I had been performing at the Utrecht Festival on Friday 24th of August 2018,

Spiritato gave a performance of their ‘Guts & Glory’ programme at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon on Saturday 21st of October 2017. They gave a brilliant performance of this programme (which was preceded by a thought-provoking pre-concert talk) and they suitably impressed the enthusiastic and inquisitive audience.This marked the fifth and final performance (as it stands)

Robert Hollingworth led I Fagiolini’s performance of Monteverdi’s 'L’Orfeo' at Cheltenham Town Hall, as part of the Cheltenham Festival, on Sunday 9th July 2017.I performed the opening Toccata, without holes, alongside players from the English Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble: Tom Lees, Emily White, Andy Harwood-White and Adrian France. In a slight difference to our other performances in Venice,

Following on from previous performances in Venice and London, I Fagiolini performed Monteverdi’s 'L’Orfeo' in the historic market town of Wareham in Dorset on Saturday 3rd June 2017. The performance took place as part of the Purbeck Art Weeks festival at Lady St Mary’s, Wareham.I performed the opening Toccata with players from the English Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble, on  natural

Robert Hollingworth’s ensemble I Fagiolini gave a semi-staged performance of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo in the London Festival of Baroque Music at St. John’s Smith Square on Thursday 18th May 2017. The brilliant Matthew Long performed the role of Orfeo.I performed the clarino part in the opening Toccata, playing the natural trumpet (without holes) with players from the English Cornett and Sackbutt

On Thursday 9th of March 2017, I was involved in delivering a Historically Informed Performance Class at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Four members of the period-instrument ensemble ‘Spiritato!’ talked about their recent ‘Guts & Glory’ project - which involved discussing many of the key aspects of being a Historically Informed performer. The class focused on the pros and cons of

Spiritato’s final 2016 performance of their ‘Guts & Glory’ programme opened the York Early Music Winter Festival on Thursday 8th of December 2016 at St. Margaret’s Church in York - home of the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM). The ensemble was led by the wonderful violinist Kinga Ujszaszi.The fun Guts and Glory project finished for 2016 in York last night. Thank you guys for all your

Spiritato's tour of the 'Guts & Glory' programme continued on Friday 11th November 2016 at St. George’s Kemp Town, in Brighton. The performance was part of the Brighton Early Music Festival 2016.Brighton Early Music Festival had chosen the theme of ‘Nature & Science’ for their 2016 festival, exploring observation, discovery, invention and creation. In the spirit of innovation, Spiritato

St. George’s in Bristol was the venue for the most recent performance of Spiritato’s 'Guts and Glory' programme. Click here to read an older post about this programme.The concert took place on the 9th of November 2016 in this magnificent venue in the vibrant city of Bristol. Spiritato performed the programme with vigour and assurance, informing and delighting the audience along the way. The programme

Last week saw the realisation of Spiritato’s innovative ‘Guts and Glory’ project. Exploring ‘equal tension’ strings and using natural trumpets without finger holes, the group devised and delivered a programme of 17th Century music by Biber, Schmelzer, Vejvanovsky and Bertali.The project began with an open rehearsal and discussion event on Friday 8th April 2016 in which Spiritato welcomed

“I exhibite in this my Journall to your Princelie view, that most glorious, renowned, Virgin Citie of Venice, the Queene of the Christian world, that Diamond set in the ring of the Adriatique gulfe, and the most resplendent mirrour of Europe…”- Thomas Coryate, c.1608There are few places in the world that are as instantly recognisable. Venice is a paradise for the eyes and for the ears. As a photographer

Exeter Cathedral was the venue for a concert entitled 'Grand Baroque II', organised by Blackdowns Early Music Projects. It was the sequel to their successful debut concert in 2013.The Altenburg Ensemble, consisting of Steve Bailey, Steve Burke, Steve Gilbey, myself, Katie Hodges, William Russell and guest player Jean-François Madeuf, opened the concert with a performance of Biber's Sonata for 6 trumpets