Bellot Ensemble
The ensemble will present a programme exploring the rich musical dialogue between Italy and England in the seventeenth century, focusing on one of the period’s most fertile ideas: the ground bass. From the expressive Italian world of Monteverdi, Strozzi, Merula and Marini to the more introspective but no less inventive sound world of Dowland, Lawes, Jenkins and Purcell, we trace how composers on both sides of the Channel absorbed, transformed and reimagined shared musical languages.
About the Bellot Ensemble
Bellot Ensemble pride themselves on the energy and passion they give to every performance. The group specialises in 17th century repertoire with research into written divisions and the contextual texts of the time. This practical research is influenced by their work with talented singers in regular collaborations with consorts, choirs and opera societies.
Bellot Ensemble took part in the Brighton Early Music Festival live scheme 2023/24, and have worked extensively with Sussex choral and opera societies ever since. The ensemble toured across the UK performing John Frederick Lampe’s “The Dragon of Wantley” with New Sussex Opera in 2024 conducted by Toby Purser. The group has been selected for the Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artist scheme 2024/25. Bellot Ensemble became Featured Artist in 2024 in the Overstrand Early Music Festival, and collaborated with Norwich Baroque at the festival. Recent notable performances include Festival Oude Musiek Utrecht, Newbury Spring Festival and recently at London Early Music Festival as finalists for their early music young ensemble competition.
Continuo Foundation has awarded the group funding for their recently recorded album ‘Cupid’s Ground Bass’, an exploration of 17th century love arias, with a focus on their own instrumental written divisions, recorded with the incredibly talented Lucine Musaelian (Soprano & Viola da Gamba) and Kieran White (Tenor). This CD will be launched alongside a concert tour in 2025.
