ENTERTAINMENT ARMONICO CONSORT


SUPERSIZE CHORAL MASTERPIECES IN STUNNING SURROUND SOUND


From an ornate building in the centre of Warwick, one of the UK’s leading choir and period instrument ensembles Armonico Consort is deep in preparations for its 25th anniversary.


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Under founder and artistic director Christopher Monks the critically-acclaimed group has become known for its concerts of rarely heard gems and new musical discoveries of the Renaissance and Baroque, performed in imaginative ways by some of the world’s finest singers and players.


Christopher explains, “25 years ago, on 21 September, I stood on a stage alongside a group of university friends, all of us taking our first steps into the professional music world. Beside us stood the celebrated soprano and Early Music specialist Dame Emma Kirkby. Our idea was a simple one: to perform together as friends, exploring new ways of bringing music to life and learning from one another as well as from exceptional artists.”


Audiences seemed to love their engaging and innovative approach, and most concerts in the first years sold out. “That gave us the confidence, energy and self-belief to do more; to take more risks with our programming and keep on experimenting” says Christopher.


One result was the ambitious, powerful and immersive ‘Supersize Polyphony’ concert format that has become Armonico’s signature programme: large-scale choral masterpieces are performed in glorious ‘surround sound’ with the audience in the centre, enveloped by voices singing up to (and frequently exceeding) 40 individual parts. It’s an awesome experience.


Almost as famous for Christopher’s groan-inducing concert titles, it’s no surprise that Armonico’s anniversary celebrations begin with a


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