The York Early Music Festival was established in 1977 in order to celebrate music from the medieval to the baroque presented within an array of historic venues across the city of York. Supported by the Arts Council of England and the City of York, the festival is administered by the National Centre for Early Music.

The festival weaves together three distinct themes: the music of Renaissance composer Orlando Gibbons, the brilliance of the Baroque, and the concept that lends this year’s title—a reflection on humanity’s fall from grace, from Heaven to Hell. The line-up features outstanding artists, including The Sixteen, The Tallis Scholars, the Academy of Ancient Music, Helen Charlston and Toby Carr, Sollazzo, and, from France, Le Consort, led by Théotime Langlois de Swarte, performing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. This annual festival takes place in York’s magnificent historic venues, including York Minster and the Medieval Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, as well as the city’s many beautiful churches.