Editorial

Welcome to the winter issue of Early Music Today. I’m particularly excited as this issue marks the return of the magazine in its standalone format, so there are now a number of different ways to keep up to date with early music news and events: by subscribing to Early Music Today in print, purchasing the digital edition online, or by subscribing to Classical Music magazine, in which EMT will also still appear – the choice is yours! (For more information on the options, go to our website, mentioned below.) It’s thanks to the continued support and dedication of our readers that we are now able to bring the magazine to you in such a variety of formats, so thank you very much for your support.

We’re not long back in the office after our busy weekend at the Greenwich International Early Music Festival, where we met with many of our readers, instrument manufacturers, performers and enthusiasts. I also got a chance to attend some of the splendid concerts hosted by the festival this year, including Red Priest’s popular Friday night appearance and the live recording of BBC Radio 3’s The Early Music Show. Seeing them put the show together, with top performers silently whisked on and off stage, while the next act is being introduced, makes you appreciate what a feat these live shows really are. One of the show’s presenters, Catherine Bott, explains in her regular column in EMT (on page 11) about their upcoming trip to Lincoln Cathedral; it’s sure to be another whirlwind musical snapshot and well-worth tuning in for. 

Talking of whirlwinds, our cover artist this issue is the inimitable Mahan Esfahani. The Iranian-born harpsichordist has already performed as a soloist at a many of the key festivals and concert halls (including being the first harpsichordist to perform a solo recital in the entire history of the BBC Proms) and is set to go far. His performance prowess is matched by his outspoken honesty about his opinions on the state of the early music industry. Read more about this tour de force on page 15.

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