Fretwork Plays Gibbons and Lawes

Fretwork return to the festival following their triumph in ‘Secret Byrd’ last year. This extraordinary ensemble which over almost four decades as the world’s leading consort of viols, has performed a huge repertoire of music old and new. The great repertoire of English consort music has been the bedrock of their success, with many classic recordings, as well as continental repertoire including music by JS Bach.

In the beautiful, hidden setting of Humbie’s little church, Fretwork are joined by award-winning mezzo Helen Charlston for some exquisite English songs. At the centre of the programme is the sublime consort music of William Lawes (1602-45), most of it composed for the court of Charles I before the composer’s untimely death in the English Civil War.