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

22 August 2024
Brauweiler, Germany (Abteikirche St. Nikolaus Brauweiler), 7.30 pm
Musen der Sphären (World Premiere)

24 October 2024
Prague, University of Prague (Boethius 150th anniversary)
Boethius - Songs of Consolation (Quartet)

14 February 2025
Kulturzentrum Peterskirche, Kempen
Musen der Sphären

See full concert schedule

News

Benjamin Bagby's teaching activities in 2019

In March 2019, Benjamin will give two weekend courses on the solo songs of Philippe le Chancelier (d. 1236). The courses are being hosted by the Centre de Musique Médiévale de Paris. Dates: 9-10 and 30-31 March.
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After retiring from his teaching position at the University of Paris - Sorbonne, where he taught between 2005 and 2018 in the professional masters program, Benjamin Bagby continues to travel widely in 2019 to teach practical workshops for young professionals:

Folkwang Universität der Künste (Essen-Werden, Germany).
Benjamin has joined the faculty of this renowned masters program for liturgical chant performance and medieval music. The dates of his courses in 2019: 5-7 April; 26-28 April; 17-19 May; 30 May–01 June.
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For the second year in a row, Benjamin will teach an intensive course in the 8th International Course on Medieval Music Performance (Besalú, Spain): Songs of the troubadours (for singers and instrumentalists).
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Amherst Early Music Festival (Connecticut College, New London CT) 21-28 July:
An intensive course on the solo cansos of the Occitan troubadours, with a focus on songs from the great Milan songbook Bibl. Ambr. R71 sup. (for singers and instrumentalists).
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