Fretwork

Continuo Foundation grantee
Supported by Continuo Foundation
They have expanded their repertory to include music from over 500 years, from the first printed consort music in Venice in 1501 to music written this year. And, in between, everything that can be played on a consort of viols - Byrd & Schubert, Purcell & Shostakovitch, Gibbons & Britten, Dowland & Grieg.
While they used to fly all over the globe, they have now committed to reducing their carbon footprint by travelling in Europe only by train or electric cars - recently, they have toured Germany, France, Spain, Austria & Slovenia in their two Teslas.
The future sees many exciting projects based on the thrilling juxtaposition of old and new; making the experience of old music new and bringing the sensibilities of past ages to bear on contemporary music.
Biography
"Fretwork is the finest viol consort on the planet" - Stephen Pettitt, The London Evening Standard.Fretwork has been around for getting on for 40 years, performing music old and new, and look forward to a challenging and exciting future as the world's leading consort of viols.
They have expanded their repertory to include music from over 500 years, from the first printed consort music in Venice in 1501 to music written this year. And, in between, everything that can be played on a consort of viols - Byrd & Schubert, Purcell & Shostakovitch, Gibbons & Britten, Dowland & Grieg.
While they used to fly all over the globe, they have now committed to reducing their carbon footprint by travelling in Europe only by train or electric cars - recently, they have toured Germany, France, Spain, Austria & Slovenia in their two Teslas.
The future sees many exciting projects based on the thrilling juxtaposition of old and new; making the experience of old music new and bringing the sensibilities of past ages to bear on contemporary music.
Musicians
- Emilia BenjaminViola da Gamba, Violin
- Jo LevineViola da Gamba, Viols
- Jonathan ReesCello, Viola da Gamba
- Richard BoothbyViols
- Sam Stadlen
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Upcoming Concerts

Gibbons and Nico Muhly
Thu, 5 June 2025
Wigmore Hall, London
7:30pm
£18 - £40
Early Music at Wigmore Hall

My Days
Fri, 4 July 2025
Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York
6:30pm
£35 / £40
York Early Music Festival
Past programmes

Orlando Gibbons & William Byrd
Tue, 25 February 2025
Keble College Chapel, Oxford
7:30pm
£10 - £35
Keble Early Music Festival

My Days
Sat, 22 February 2025
St Luke's Church, Battersea
7:30pm
£15-£20
St Luke's Music Society
- ➕1 other performance

Bach's The Art of Fugue
Tue, 11 February 2025
Holy Trinity Church, London
5:45pm
Free
Imperial College Rush Hour Concert Series

Orlando Gibbons and Thomas Lupo
Sun, 19 January 2025
Stapleford Granary
3:00pm
£24 / £12 (under 25)

Iestyn Davies: Lamento – Sweet Sorrow
Fri, 17 January 2025
St Martin-in-the-Fields
7:30pm
£10 - £40
St Martin-in-the-Fields

Take Five
Sat, 5 October 2024
The Hub at St Mary's
7:30pm
£28
Lichfield Festival
- ➕1 other performance

Dreams and Visions
Sat, 28 September 2024
Wigmore Hall
1:00pm
£18 (concessions £16)

Old and New
Wed, 25 September 2024
Malling Abbey
1:00pm
£15 (Under 25's free)
Music@Malling
Secret Byrd
Thu, 5 September 2024
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
8:30pm
£45 (with food) | £20

Buxtehude & Bach
Sun, 24 March 2024
Winchester Cathedral, Winchester
3:30pm
£15