Phantasy – The Golden Age of English Gamba Consorts
at the 27th Summer Festivities of Early Music 2026

Thanks to its velvety, silvery tone and wide range of articulation techniques – from a gentle whisper to energetic, dramatic accents – the viola da gamba is rightly considered one of the most beloved instruments in music history… Its ability to embrace a space and turn silence into melodious sound was certainly very popular in 16th- and 17th-century England. At the concert in Lobkowicz Palace, listeners will be transported to the golden age of English viola da gamba consorts, together with the members of the Vittorio Ghielmi Viol Quartet, in whose hands these instruments speak like the human voice and convey deep emotion.

The programme, composed of works by both renowned and nearly forgotten composers, contains numerous references to ancient deities, supernatural beings, and well-known mythological tales. At the heart of the evening are Purcell’s Fantasies, which are considered among the finest and most complex works of the genre, encompassing elaborate counterpoint and perfect mastery of all the polyphonic techniques of the time.

Performers
Vittorio Ghielmi / soprano and bass viola da gamba, art. director
Réka Nagy / tenor viola da gamba
Marius Malanetchi / bass viola da gamba
Christoph Urbanetz / bass viola da gamba