Catherine King mezzo-soprano William Lyons flute/recorder Susanna Pell viol/vielle Jacob Heringman lute/viol

Virelai was founded in 1991 by leading performers in the world of early music with a desire to illuminate neglected repertoire of the late middle ages and early renaissance, a fascination with the juxtaposition of old and new, and in the spirit of exploration and creativity. Virelai made its Wigmore Hall debut in 1993, and has since performed in Prague Castle, the Manchester Early Music Series, the Magenta Music Festival, on the Dutch and British Early Music Networks, and in broadcasts of both old and new music for the BBC. Virelai has made a series of highly-acclaimed recordings for Virgin Classics and for the BBC has recorded programmes of Dufay Chansons. Virelai has championed the music of today with several notable commissions. Their latest innovative project involves new works set to Renaissance poetry, resulting in the CD Sad Steps and several performances and stimulating workshops for singers, instrumentalists and composers. Virelai’s diverse make-up lends itself to a variety of repertoire, including countless smaller combinations of duos and trios.

Sample Programme:

The Age of Experiment: Music from Leonardo’s time. A snapshot of the Italian musical scene during the lifetime of Leonardo da Vinci , featuring breathtaking virtuoso northern polyphonic instrumental music and the native Italian song form, the frottola.
There is no Rose: A programme of medieval and renaissance Christmas music which combines the unfamiliar with a fresh look at the familiar. ‘Performed with verve by the young early-music group Virelai’ The Observer
Sad Steps: A collaborative song cycle for which Virelai commissioned a number of modern composers to write new settings of Renaissance love poetry.
In addition to performances, Virelai offers workshops for singers, early wind and string players, as well as student composers, in the latter case joined by composer Andrew Keeling.

Recordings:

There is no rose: Renaissance music for the Christmas season (Virgin Veritas 7243 5 45286 2 0)
Chansons nouvelles: Parisian chansons and dances c1530-1550 (Virgin Veritas 7243 5 45313 2 3)
Treasures from my minde: Songs and instrumental music by John Dowland (Virgin Veritas 7243 5 4528828)
Sad Steps: (Riverrun RVRCD 62)

Performances:

17 Mar 06 Magdalene College, Cambridge

Contact:

Jacob Heringman

Tel: 07986 219725
Fax: 0870 136 6713

Email: info@heringman.com
Website: heringman.com