This year's York Early Music Festival draws directly from the heart of Renaissance music in a collaboration with the region of Flanders.
Flanders was an important musical hotspot in the 15th century, shaping the music of Europe through the influence of the Franco-Flemish School, whose adherents included Johannes Ockeghem, Josquin des Prez, and Orlando di Lasso.
The festivities start on Flanders Day, July 11, with a reception at York Mansion House hosted by delegates from the Flanders government. The event will welcome the participating artists, and will celebrate the new partnership.
The following day sees performances by three Dutch ensembles. The Utopia Ensemble will sing at the National Centre for Early Music, and Cappella Pratensis and I Fedeli-giants in historically informed Early music performance-deliver works by two prominent representatives of the Franco-Flemish School: Jacob Obrecht and Jacobus Barbireau. The latter will take place York Minster Quire.
The partnership also celebrates the historic trading ties between Flanders and York. "We are particularly delighted to be part of this exciting new partnership, the beginning of a new collaboration with artists and colleagues based in Flanders," said YEMF director Dr. Delma Tomlin. "This marks a very important moment in this city's musical history and highlights York's historical relationship with Flanders, giving us the opportunity to celebrate our cultural heritages. We look forward to building on this partnership in the future."
"Flanders and York share historical connections through several key aspects of their heritage and centuries of cultural and economic exchanges," said Brat Brosius, general representative of Flanders in the United Kingdom and Ireland. "We share bustling medieval markets, elegant Gothic architecture, entrepreneurship, and academic excellence... We are delighted to work with the local authorities, the University of York and the renowned York Early Music Festival. We also look forward to welcoming our friends from York later in the summer for the Flanders Festival Antwerp."
