While many eyes were on the Seine and the opening of the Paris Olympics, on the banks of the Clyde a weekend of music not only spanned the centuries but recalled Glasgow’s more recent heyday as a destination for the best the world has to offer. The catalyst for this first such event since the Glasgow International Early Music Festival in the early 1990s was the male voice quartet Iuchair Ensemble, who appeared at last year’s Govan Music Festival and here delved deepest into musical history with their late night recreation of plainchant for the feast of St Anne on Friday night. Their mix of academic archaeology with new polyphony by tenor member Joshua Stutter was less about period authenticity than evocation, but the call-and-response, hummed drones and precision unison phrasing resonated beautifully in the old kirk’s acoustic.
Read More from Keith Bruce: SCO Chorus raises the ramparts at Stirling Castle 'A fascinating debut': Perth Festival Il Giardino d'Amore reviewed 'Their boldest programme to date' - Bearsden Choir at Glasgow's City Halls The star attraction of the weekend was Saturday night’s recital by a quartet of instrumentalists from the Dunedin Consort, with artistic director John Butt at the harpsichord. That reverberation in the building was not always a friend of their intimate music, but focused listening produced rewards. Violinist Huw Daniel and flautist Katy Bircher were the familiar top-line soloists on sonatas by Bach, Handel, and Elisabeth Jacquet.