tue 26/11/2024

Goldberg Variations, Fretwork, St George's Bristol | reviews, news & interviews

Goldberg Variations, Fretwork, St George's Bristol

Goldberg Variations, Fretwork, St George's Bristol

Bach on viols brings out the polyphony and promotes insomnia

Fretwork: A smooth tapestry without joins
There are few more beautiful sounds on this planet than a consort of viols well played. Like a quiet conversation overheard from across the room, it combines intimacy and secrecy, together with a kind of conspiratorial subtlety of feeling – intellect and passion fused but disguised. And the sound has a delicacy and refinement hardly matched in any music I know.
There are few more beautiful sounds on this planet than a consort of viols well played. Like a quiet conversation overheard from across the room, it combines intimacy and secrecy, together with a kind of conspiratorial subtlety of feeling – intellect and passion fused but disguised. And the sound has a delicacy and refinement hardly matched in any music I know.
At high speed in an elaborate texture, it can be like walking a tightrope on stilts

Share this article

Comments

When this article's link is pasted on Facebook, the blurb that results says: "Bach on viols brings out the polyphony and promotes insomnia, says Stephen Walsh" But the reviewer actually concludes: "Fretwork, though, are virtuosos and never put one to sleep..." Did your editor actually read the review?

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters