After a three-week run of pre-festival events, this year’s edition proper is launched with the UK premiere of 1736 French baroque opera Les Caractères de l’Amour, by Mademoiselle Duval, which we can safely bet will be a first for most of the audience. There follows a melodic melange of concerts on the theme of love, featuring music from medieval times to the 18th century, largely played as they would have been played in their day. Expect Henry Purcell, expect 16th century polyphony, expect 400th-anniversary celebrations of Orlando Gibbons’ sacred music. We are particularly looking forward to a ‘lunchtime concert’ by Nardus Williams, winner of the Rising Talent award at the 2022 International Opera Awards, with ‘uber-lutenist’ Elizabeth Kenny. Unfold the fugue at bremf.org.uk