"utterly gripping in its mixture of eroticism and violence" - The Guardian
"the very embodiment of sprezzatura" - Early Music Today
"technically superb, but in a highly expressive way" - Robert Hugill
"the very embodiment of sprezzatura" - Early Music Today
"technically superb, but in a highly expressive way" - Robert Hugill
What we doThe Monteverdi String Band is dedicated to celebrating the sound and style of the early violin consort, in both well-established repertoire and innovative new programmes. Our instruments are carefully chosen: they are modelled on originals from the early decades of the 17th century, rather than the 18th century, when developments which led the violin away from its origins as a consort instrument transformed its sound into something perhaps more brilliant but less rich and grounded. We relish the sound of pure gut strings in equal tension; this and the use of matching instruments brings a unique sound to the ensemble: as a recent critic wrote, “The MSB’s sound is quite unlike any that of any other ensemble I know that plays this music”.
We enjoy working with other like-minded ensembles in repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Lully and Biber, with the occasional foray into the 18th century. The challenge of creating new programmes is one we find richly rewarding and for which we are delighted to have earned a reputation. This began with The Madrigal Transformed, in which we interleave “modern” (17th century!) and ancient (16th century) madrigals with contemporary readings; other productions include Monteverdi's Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, and Galileo, our first collaboration with playwright Clare Norburn, which premiered at BREMF in 2016. Highlights of recent years have been our first performance of Bach's B minor mass and a new incarnation of The Madrigal Transformed at the Korkyra Baroque Festival in Croatia, as well as a Biber extravaganza and more Vespers performances in the autumn; in January 2020 we were thrilled to revisit Galileo for Baroque at the Edge. The pandemic in 2020 has forced several postponements, but also allowed us to develop some new programmes for 2021 (watch this space for an exciting collaboration with the wonderful soprano Hannah Ely), as well as initiate our Monteverdi String Band in focus series: see the Featured Event panel for more details. 
MSB performing "The Madrigal Transformed" in Korçula, Croatia, September 2019.
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– FEATURED EVENT –
Monteverdi String Band in focus Con Arte e Maestria Online concert broadcast in collaboration with the Brighton Early Music Festival 5th February 2021, 19.30 UK time Event details here; tickets available by voluntary donation here Monteverdi String Band in focus is a new venture intended to broaden the scope of the ensemble to include smaller projects featuring individual members. We start with Con Arte e Maestria, a celebration of the art of virtuoso ornamentation from the time of Monteverdi. Musical director Oliver Webber is joined by renowned harpsichordist Steven Devine in a spectacular programme of brilliant ornamentation, including not only surviving examples from the decades around 1600, but also a selection of Oliver's own versions, inspired by the individual styles of Monteverdi's contemporaries. Recent performances:
12th, 13th September 2019 Korkyra Baroque: The Madrigal Transformed We had a wonderful time returning to one of our flagship programmes in our first visit to the enchanting island of Korčula. Here you can see a few precious memories of this special place. 4th October 2019 Leopold Mozart Tercentenary with ECSE and the BBC Singers In our first collaboration with the BBC Singers, courtesy of long-standing colleagues ECSE, we enjoyed a delightfully fresh and inspiring programme of music by Leopold Mozart and his contemporaries. 29th November 2019 Exeter: Grand Baroque IV Blackdowns Early Music Projects, true to form, created another extravaganza of Biber and contemporaries, which we and our friends in the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble found richly rewarding. 30th November 2019 Truro Cathedral: Monteverdi, 1610 Vespers We returned with great pleasure to Monteverdi's iconic masterpiece with our friends from ECSE in the beautiful surroundings of Truro's 13th century cathedral. |