Another benchmark 1610 Vespers from I Fagiolini in their 40th year

I Fagiolini and the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble
© Monika S Jakubowska (2023)

Robert Hollingworth (organ/director)

I Fagiolini:

Amy Wood (soprano)

Ciara Hendrick (mezzo soprano)

Martha McLorinan (mezzo soprano)

Nicholas Mulroy (tenor)

Hugo Hymas (tenor)

Matthew Long (tenor)

Jacob Ewens (tenor)

Greg Skidmore (baritone)

Sebastian Thomas (barítone)

Charles Gibbs (bass)

Frederick Long (bass)

I Fagiolini & the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble
© Nick Boston

Kinga Ujszászi (violin)

Persephone Gibbs (violin)

Rachel Byrt (viola)

Julia Black (viola)

Sarah McMahon (bass violin)

William Hunt (violone)

William Lyons (dulcian/recorder)

Toby Carr (chitarrone)

Lynda Sayce (chitarrone)

Aileen Henry (harp)

Catherine Pierron (organ)

English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble:

Gawain Glenton (cornett)

Conor Hastings (cornett)

David Brutti (cornett)

Emily White (tenor sackbut)

Tom Lees (tenor sackbut)

Adrian France (bass sackbut)

7.30pm, Friday 18 September, 2026

King's Place, London

★★★★★

Monteverdi, Claudio (1567-1643): Vespro della Beata Vergine, SV 206

'Tenor Nicholas Mulroy was the stand out star of proceedings, his Nigra sum, with Aileen Henry’s beautiful harp accompaniment, a masterclass of controlled virtuosity'. 

'It was this bright and more soloistic approach that made for such a consistent flow of interest and variety, whilst their ability to come together as one in the fuller choral sections produced a truly electric energy'. 

'The cornetts rippled, the sackbuts glowed, the strings provided bright and nimble energy'.

'(Hollingworth's) lightness of touch yet authoritative beat allowed singers and instrumentalists the space to perform with individuality within a coherent common shape'.

'If I could add a further star, I would'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers in their shining glory from I Fagiolini

I Fagiolini
© Monika S Jakubowska

Robert Hollingworth (director/organ)

 

I Fagiolini: 

Julia Doyle (soprano)

Martha McLorinan (mezzo soprano)

Ciara Hendrick (mezzo soprano)

Nicholas Mulroy (tenor)

Matthew Long (tenor)

Nicholas Hurndall Smith (tenor)

Chris Fitzgerald-Lombard (tenor)

Greg Skidmore (baritone)

Sam Gilliatt (baritone)

Charles Gibbs (bass)

Frederick Long (bass)

Eligio Quinteiro (chitarrone)

Lynda Sayce (chitarrone/recorder/flute)

Aileen Henry (harp)

William Lyons (dulcian/recorder/flute)

Catherine Pierron (organ)

Robert Hollingworth conducting I Fagiolini and 
the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble
© Monika S Jakubowska

Kinga Ujszászi (violin)

Naomi Burrell (violin)

Rachel Byrt (viola)

Julia Black (viola)

Gavin Kibble (bass violin)

William Hunt (violone)

English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble:

Gawain Glenton (cornett)

Conor Hastings (cornett)

Nick Perry (cornett/tenor cornett)

Emily White (sackbut)

Tom Lees (sackbut)

Adrian France (sackbut)

7.30pm, Friday 29 September 2023

Kings Place, London

★★★★★

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): Vespro della Beata Vergine, SV 206

'Kinga Ujszászi led the bright and lively string band, and the ECSE's vibrant cornett flourishes and rich sackbut tones added glorious colour'. 

'Tenor Nicholas Mulroy was the star of the evening, his Nigra sum, accompanied by Aileen Henry on harp, was simply stunning, with intense passion, richness in the bass range, and incredibly controlled decresdendi on “veni”'.

'... their Duo Seraphim was frankly astonishing, with wrenching suspensions and startling, stuttering ornaments, perfectly matched one after the other'.

'The singers were constantly alive to duos or trios within the textures, responding to each other and clearly enjoying when their lines came together'.

'A special performance that will not be forgotten'. 

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.