Brighton Early Music Festival offers Whistler readers a choice of 15 top-class concerts within easy reach during October and November. This year’s festival, which brings 700 years of music from 17 European countries to Brighton, has the timely theme,  “Europe – Connection, Division, Collaboration and Chaos”.

The main festival takes place between 26 October and 11 November. Highlights include Royal Wedding soprano Elin Manahan Thomas in a lunchtime programme with lutenist Elizabeth Kenny of lute songs from the court of Elizabeth I (St Paul’s Church, 27 October), the story of music and migration in 16th-century London with the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble (St Martin’s Church, 27 October) music from the 13th century Lewes Priory Breviary (St Bartholomew’s Church, 28 October); a royal wedding party for Prince Adolf and Princess Ulrika of Sweden (St George’s Church, 2 November); music for peace to celebrate Armistice Day (St Martin’s Church, 11 November); and a double bill of Italian and English opera, updated for the 21st century with contemporary dance (The Old Market, 6-8 November).

The Festival features several lunchtime and afternoon concerts. Events take place in a variety of venues across central Brighton and Hove, all of which can be reached on at least one of Brighton bus services 1, 5, 7 and 25.

Full information and online booking is available at bremf.org.uk, with phone bookings via Brighton Dome Ticket Office (01273 709709).  Under 12s can attend for free when accompanied by an adult. Anyone aged 12-25, as well as full-time students or those in receipt of Universal Credit or Pension Credit can buy tickets at half price.