Fretwork

Continuo Foundation grantee
Supported by Continuo Foundation
Fretwork has been around for getting on for 40 years, performing music old and new, and looks 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 & Shostakovich, Gibbons & Britten, and 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.
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 (London Evening Standard)
Fretwork has been around for getting on for 40 years, performing music old and new, and looks 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 & Shostakovich, Gibbons & Britten, and 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.
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
- Jonathan ReesCello, Viola da Gamba
- Richard BoothbyViols
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Upcoming Concerts

Fantazia
Thu, 5 Nov 2026
Burgh House, London NW3
7:00pm
£30 - £40 (conc. available)
Vermeer Chamber Concerts

Dowland's Lachrimae
Tue, 8 Dec 2026
Stapleford Granary, Cambridge
7:45pm
£12 - £24
Stapleford Granary

Origins Unwrapped
Fri, 15 Jan 2027
Kings Place, London
7:30pm
£25 - £40 (conc. available)
Early Music at Kings Place

Johann Theile: St Matthew Passion
Fri, 26 Mar 2027
Wigmore Hall, London
7:30pm
£18 - £45
Early Music at Wigmore Hall
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Past programmes

Ian Bostridge & Fretwork
Sun, 18 Oct 2026
Brecon Cathedral
6:30pm
£28 - £35
Brecon Baroque Festival

Musique Which Pleaseth Myne Eare
Thu, 8 Oct 2026
Hatfield House, Hertfordshire
5:00pm
£5 - £27
Hatfield House Music Festival

Fretwork 40th Anniversary
Thu, 1 Oct 2026
Wigmore Hall, London
7:00pm
£18 - £50
Early Music at Wigmore Hall

Ian Bostridge and Fretwork perform Dowland
Tue, 28 Jul 2026
Gloucester Cathedral
3:00pm
£11 - £36
Three Choirs Festival

Lachrimae
Sun, 26 Jul 2026
The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
7:00pm
£25
Dowland 400 Festival

Dowland: Lachrimae 1604
Wed, 27 May 2026
St David's Cathedral (Eglwys Gydeiriol Tyddewi)
7:00pm
£15 - £23 (u18s free)
St. David's Cathedral Festival

Take Five
Mon, 18 May 2026
Jacqueline du Pré Building, Oxford
7:30pm
£25 (conc. available)
Music at Oxford

I Want to Vanish
Sat, 16 May 2026
St James' Church, Chipping Campden
7:00pm
£10 - £45 (students £1 with adult ticket)
Chipping Campden Music Festival

Secret Byrd
Sat, 9 May 2026
Smith Square Hall, London
9:30pm
£45
Smith Square Hall- ➕3 other performances







