Bloomington Early Music Festival kicks off Friday at the Wells-Metz

The 14th annual Bloomington Early Music Festival will get underway in Bloomington tomorrow, featuring Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical music performed by nationally recognized visiting and local soloists and ensembles. \nThe festival, which lasts until May 28, will be highlighting the 400th anniversary of Monteverdi’s "ORFEO" opera this year by staging three performances of it. The first will be tomorrow at 8 p.m. at the Wells-Metz Theatre. \n“It is considered one of the first operas that has stayed in the repertoire. This production will have many instruments that are unusual and rarely used such as the lirone, the cornetto, the violone and the regal organ,” said Festival Manager Luis Roncayolo.\nThe Bloomington Early Music Festival, or BLEMF, is hosted at venues all around town, including Oliver Winery, IU buildings and various Bloomington churches. \nOther performances include Bloomington Baroque, which will play a chamber music concert at Auer Hall at 2 p.m. Saturday. \nOn Sunday, the festival will hold an educational event presented in conjunction with the exhibition of the Mildred Dilling Collection of Historical Harps at IU. The Development of the European Harp from 800-1800 A.D. will begin at 4 p.m. in Sweeney Hall. \nFestival attendees are attracted by the uniqueness of the performances and experiencing the only gathering of its kind in the Midwest.\n“It’s the popular music of its day. It’s fun to hear this music played on the instruments you don’t see in modern music,” said Festival Publicity Chair Jeanne Walters.\nThe Bloomington festival began in 1993, when a group of IU Jacobs School of Music students got together for a weekend at downtown venues to play music from early eras. The turnout was a great success and has kept its interest going with hundreds of people attending the now 10-day festival annually. \nScott Witzke, an IU graduate with a degree in Early Music, is a member of BLEMF’s Board of Directors and performed in the festival as a student.\n“BLEMF is one of the festivals that makes Bloomington unique – small town charm with big city entertainment,” Witzke said. “(It) is a way to hear many up and coming musicians, as well as for alumnus who have moved on in their professional careers to come back to Bloomington and showcase their talents.” \nThe Elatio! Quartet will be showcasing their talents on May 23, playing Renaissance Wind Music at Oliver Winery. \nFor a complete schedule of BLEMF events, visit the festival’s Web site at www.blemf.org/festival.html .