Workshop for Voices and Instruments with Robert Hollingworth on 6th December 2025

We welcome back Robert Hollingworth who last came to MEMF three years ago, just before his Benevoli project began with I Fagiolini. Their third and final Benevoli album of mid-17th century multi-choir masses from Rome is already recorded (released next spring) and includes a wonderfully flowing three-choir mass, Missa Angelus Domini.  Based on a lost original, the mass is fast moving at times with delightful detail and reduced voices sections for the Christe and ‘Et resurrexit’.  It’s for three equal choirs (SATB) but can happily take instrumental doubling on strings, recorders, cornetts/sackbuts and bass dulcians (but not double reeds generally).  Come and uncover a work of quality and a real pleasure to sing and play.

Robert Hollingworth founded I Fagiolini in 1986 and has since spent much of his life thinking about how audiences receive music, instead of just how performers want to deliver it. Aside from his work with I Fagiolini, he is a conductor, broadcaster, educator, editor and festival director. Robert has conducted orchestras including the English Concert, Academy of Ancient Music, BBC Concert Orchestra, Irish Baroque Orchestra and directed some of the world’s finest chamber choirs including Accentus, NDR Chor, RIAS Kammerchor (Berlin), Netherlands Chamber Choir, National Chamber Choir of Ireland, BBC Singers, Danish National Vocal Ensemble and Capella Cracoviensis. Robert is Artistic Director for Stour Music Festival and the new ‘Fairest Isle Festival’ on the Isle of Wight.

At the University of York, Robert directs two choirs and the UK’s only MA in Solo-Voice Ensemble Singing, now in its 13th year. He has written and presented programmes on BBC Radio 3 and more recently created over 30 episodes of the YouTube choral series SingTheScore as well as co-founding and presenting the UK’s top choral podcast series, Choral Chihuahua, with Eamonn Dougan and Nicholas Mulroy, now in its twelfth season. Both are made by Polyphonic Films (Greg Browning). Robert Hollingworth is managed worldwide by Percius.

The venue, Solihull Methodist Church Hall, is close to the centre of Solihull, easily accessible from junction 5 of the M42. It is right next to the town’s railway station, which is also served by buses, at the junction of Blossomfield Road and Station Approach. There is a large car park, including a number of dedicated disabled parking spaces, with the car park entrance in Station Approach. If using a SatNav to direct you, the postcode is B91 1LG. The Hall is a separate building to the church.

The day includes a free lunch thanks to a generous bequest from our former Treasurer, Heather Holt.

The organiser is Jonathan Spencer  07784 657563

Booking is now open – click here.