Iestyn Davies with Fretwork (UK)

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Wednesday, November 27th, 2024
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Salt Spring Baroque welcomes, from the UK, viol consort Fretwork with internationally acclaimed countertenor Iestyn Davies, in an exploration of exquisite and deeply spiritual 17th-century German repertoire.

They will perform a program entitled “LAMENTO”. A beloved genre in the Baroque era, the lamento’s origins lay in early 17th century Italian opera, before finding its way into sacred music. It was quickly embraced by German sacred composers, who used its expressive nature to depict the sorrow of mankind’s sin and the tragic Passion of Christ. Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703)’s Ach, dass ich Wassers gnug hätte, his best-known work that laments the sinfulness of humanity, forms the foundation of this programme that traverses across Baroque Germany. In 17th century Germany, the violin was slow to arrive and dominate the musical landscape, so the sweet sound of the viol family was the instrumental texture of musical life, both in the home, the court and church. The programme features music from three Saxon friends with similar-sounding names, who came from the same neck of the woods: Schein, Scheidt & Schütz; and the great Buxtehude, in the north.

Iestyn Davies, widely recognized as one of the world’s finest singers is the recipient of two Gramophone Awards, a Grammy Award, a RPS Award for Young Singer of the Year, the Critics’ Circle Award and recently an Olivier Award Nomination. He was appointed MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2017 for services to music.
“… Iestyn Davies sings with rapturous virtuosity and uncanny beauty…” – The Independent
“. . . a sublime voice, a faultless technique and superb artistry, all of which Davies has in spades.” – Keith McDonnell, MusicOMH

Fretwork has been setting the standard for the viol consort performance for over 35 years. In 2026, Fretwork celebrates its 40th anniversary. In these last decades, they have explored the core repertory of great English consort music from Taverner to Purcell, made classic recordings against which others are judged, and commissioned an entirely new repertory of music for viols.
“Fretwork is the finest viol consort on the planet”
— Stephen Pettitt, The London Evening Standard

Tickets available at http://www.artpring.ca, for more information visit http://www.saltspringbaroque.com.