Lighten Mine Eies

Employed as a singer and lutenist to Charles I, William Lawes’ brief but dazzling career astonishes audiences with its harmonic and contrapuntal daring.

Lighten mine eies – a programme which borrows its title from verses attributed to King David puts Lawes’ compositions for harp, composed for the private settings of Charles I’s royal court, centre stage - framed by Lawes’ sublime psalm settings for three voices and continuo. Led by the award-winning Robin Pharo, the ensemble’s recent recording for Harmonia Mundi has achieved universal acclaim, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to share this exquisite jewel of a programme on the opening night of the 2026 Beverley festival.

Amélie Raison soprano
Anaïs Bertrand mezzo-soprano
Oliver Gourdy bass
Fiona-Émilie Poupard violin, tenor gamba
Bérengère Sardin harp
Simon Waddell theorbo
Nora Dargazanli harpsichord, organ
Robin Pharo tenor gamba, bass gamba