06/29/2005

York Early Music Festival

Queen Elizabeth I to Visit York
HRH Queen Elizabeth I is visiting York on Monday 4 July. Join us at 9am on Monday 4 July at the National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York YO1 9TL for an interview in full 16th century costume – and perhaps a little music!

Queen Elizabeth I will be graciously promoting the 2005 York Early Music Festival which runs from Friday 8 to Saturday 16 July and focuses on the music created, influenced and played by women from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.

Highlights include performances by the internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble Concerto Soave with Maria Cristina Kiehr [St Olave’s Church, Saturday 9 July]; instrumentalists London Baroque with soprano Emma Kirkby [Lyons Concert Hall, Tuesday 12 July] and the French vocal group Alla Francesca making their York debut [Chapter House, Thursday 14 July].

The music of Queen Elizabeth I is represented throughout the Festival, starting with an illustrated lecture talking about her love of music and musicians followed a concert in York Minster on Friday 8 July when The Tallis Scholars present music of one of her most famous composers Thomas Tallis - whose 500th anniversary we celebrate this year – ending on Saturday 16 July at the National Centre for Early Music with the Musicians of the Globe performing music written specifically for the Queen on her travels around 16th century England.

Web: To look at the Festival programme – please visit www.ncem.co.uk and follow the link to the York Early Music Festival.