After an absence of 13 years since their last performance for MCCS, it was a real joy to welcome back the exuberant, eccentric and excellent Baroque Ensemble sensation, Red Priest. For 28 years they have delighted and entertained audiences worldwide with their artistry and charisma, and they remain as engaging and compelling as they were on day one.
Quite apart from their clear finesse and talents as pure instrumentalists (can anyone play faster than Piers Adams?), they inject a theatrical aspect too, which is both relevant and witty: red and black outfits, use of the complete space (an occasional wander around the auditorium), informative but slightly tongue-in-cheek introductions – you name it – they provide it to great effect.
There’s plenty of variety too, whether that be the rousing quartet in full swing or a smaller combination of the group or a solo number from each of the players. “Baroque music revels in the extravagant”, so the programme notes tell us and Red Priest are not afraid to explore that invitation. There is more than a hint of risk about everything they present: all music is played from memory, tempi (breath-taking), vibrato from Adams (unusual in baroque music), and an almost contemporary rock and pop approach from the dynamic harpsichordist Jack Gonzalez-Harding.
No wonder then, that another packed Memorial Hall lapped up this musical extravaganza, and why wouldn’t they, because this was a quite superb concert.
Philip Dukes FGSM HonARAM
Artistic Director