Following on from the most recent Orfeo at the Stour Music Festival, I Fagiolini gave a subsequent performance on Friday 5th July 2019 in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall at the University of York, on the first day of the National Centre for Early Music's York Early Music Festival 2019.


This Orfeo differed from any of I Fagiolini's earlier performances: with the addition of student singers from the University of York (along with the usual chorus) and the production also featured live puppetry.

Bravo to all concerned with Day One of the 2019 YEMF. Amazing talent, voices, staging, instruments, puppets all celebrating Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo welcoming visitors and residents alike. Thank you @ifagiolini @ecse1610 @matforall @yorkmusichub @AHSYork

— NCEM (@yorkearlymusic) July 5, 2019

"Puppets inspire imagination," says Thomas Guthrie (@bastianboytg) stage director of Monteverdi’s opera L’Orfeo, discussing the use of puppets in opera. @BBCSounds https://t.co/aQmcK0w3tQ #puppetry #opera

— In Tune BBC Radio 3 (@BBCInTune) July 2, 2019

Bravo to all concerned with Day One of the 2019 YEMF. Amazing talent, voices, staging, instruments, puppets all celebrating Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo welcoming visitors and residents alike. Thank you @ifagiolini @ecse1610 @matforall @yorkmusichub @AHSYork

— NCEM (@yorkearlymusic) July 5, 2019

I played the clarino part in a section of five natural trumpets, comprising of players from the English Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble. I played delicately (without holes) in the clarino register and the others gave, a solid harmonic foundation and rhythmic texture to the ensemble. There were a good few recognisable faces in the audience tonight and I was very pleased to receive a message from one of them who said: "Nice Toccata tonight, young Russell. You floated over the rest like the head on a Guinness." - a lovely metaphor.