Classical Preview: A beacon for music’s new Elizabethan age

“Exploring the dawn of a new Elizabethan era” is the theme of this year’s York Early Music Festival, referring back to the end of the Second World War when the Festival of Britain brought about a renewed interest in our musical heritage. It had only just spluttered into life when along came the ebullient David Munrow, whose radio broadcasts awoke a new era of musicians playing Early Music.

York has become one of its gleaming beacons, this year attracting famous groups for eight days into which they pack twenty-nine events.

The Gabrieli Consort’s opening concert contains one of our great musical landmarks, William Byrd’s Great Service (July 8); then you can hear the world’s best-known vocal group when The Sixteen visit the Minster with an evening of sacred works by Victoria (July 15). The fast- rising star of the harpsichord, Mahan Esfahani, plays Tallis, Byrd and Bull (July 12), while The English Consort excite with Handel, Vivaldi and Marcello played on period instruments (July 9).

Competitors from France, Switzerland, Holland, Japan, Belgium, UK, Israel, Iran and the USA will take part in the York Early Music International Young Artists Competition. Two days of concerts leads to the final round (Jul 16).

York Early Music Festival, July 8-16, 01904 658338.