From the Press

US Tour 2012

The Fearsome Future Through Medieval Eyes

‘Benjamin Bagby’s peculiar genius has less to do with virtuosity than with daring and imagination. His art is speculative reconstruction, and … his results have often been startlingly different from those of his peers, mainly because he is willing to take leaps that others are not.’

‘Mr. Bagby’s flexible baritone and idiosyncratic vocal style – a fluid blend of delcamation and singing – suited the sermonlike spirit of these works. His accompaniments were simple and direct.’

(Alan Kozinn)

New York Times (7 March, 2012)

Bagby Time-Travels to medieval Europe

‘The much-praised medieval music ensemble Sequentia thrilled a packed Houghton Chapel at Wellesley College last night. Many in the audience were from the Early Music world, while others knew Benjamin Bagby, the group’s singer and harpist, from his magisterial performances at Tanglewood and on the DVD of Beowulf.’

‘Bagby has assiduously and creatively been recreating a musical and literary world. He has written over 70 programs fro Sequentia, and Saturday’s, entitled ‘Fragments for the End of Time’ certainly relfects the skill, intelligence and fire that he brings to a performance.’

‘Bagby is both a brilliant actor and re-enactor. You never doubt his authenticity: consider his eyes, posture, pronunciation of the thorniest linguistic entanglements (and his gorgeous rolled r’s!), his hands and the many ways he modulates his voice.’

‘If I ever go time-traveling to the Middle Ages, I want Sequentia as my guide – and my entertainment.’

(Susan Miron)

The Boston Musical Intelligencer (4 March, 2012

Upcoming Concerts

7-15 May 2013
Oude Muziek Netwerk tour: Brussels (B), Muiden, Maastricht, Enschede, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht (NL). Details
Frankish Phantoms

17 May 2013
Worms (D). Details
Frankish Phantoms

29 May 2013
Köln (D) Museum Schnütgen. Details
Frankish Phantoms

See full concert schedule

News

Teaching

New courses for 2013 are listed here.

Sequentia on BBC 3

Benjamin Bagby was recently in London, where he appeared as a guest on the BBC 3 'Early Music Show' to talk about Sequentia. The podcast version of his interview with host Catherine Bott can be heard here.

New recording

The program 'Voices from the Island Sanctuary' was recorded by the Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln in October 2012. A CD release in 2013 is currently being negotiated.

Fragments for the End of Time on 2012 US tour

Sequentia performed the program 'Fragments for the End of Time' during a US concert tour in February/March 2012. Read reviews in the New York Times: The Fearsome Future Through Medieval Eyes, and the Boston Musical Intelligencer: Bagby Time-Travels to medieval Europe.

Beowulf on DVD

Benjamin Bagby’s legendary performance of the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf (part I) recorded live in Helsingborg, Sweden.
Visit the Beowulf website

News Archive