Polyphonische Begegnungen – Polyphonic Encounters

Concert III – Peerless Purcell: Fantasies in Full
Sunday, 11 January 2026, 5:00 pm, St. Elisabeth Church

In March 2025, the Phantasm Viol Consort launched its own concert series at St. Elisabeth Church in Berlin-Mitte. The series comprises four concerts, each devoted entirely to polyphony and spotlighting a composer especially renowned for mastery of this compositional technique.

At the very end of the English consort tradition are the masterworks by the Orpheus Britannicus, Henry Purcell. All composed during the summer of 1680 when Purcell was still 20 years of age, his restless experimentation and daring harmonies make him a true pioneer of polyphony just at a time when criticism of contrapuntal music was attacked as ‘clogged with an English vein’. With some works anticipating features found only subsequently in late Beethoven String Quartets, the Purcell Fantasies and In Nomines – all heard in one sitting – are a feast for the ears and offer an insightful perspective on the entire trajectory of polyphonic art music. Phantasm’s deeply felt approach to Purcell has been recognised since their very first CD of his Fantasies won the British Gramophone Award some 30 years ago.

The two remaining concerts in the series will be dedicated to Henry Purcell and William Lawes. With this series, Phantasm aims not only to promote the rarely heard English polyphonic repertoire in Berlin, but also to foster direct engagement with audiences. After each concert, the ensemble warmly invites attendees to enjoy a complimentary drink and informal conversation at the bar—your chance to ask anything you’ve ever wanted to know about viols, consort playing, and more!

POLYPHONISCHE BEGEGNUNGEN – POLYPHONIC ENCOUNTERS
Save the date – concerts season 2025/26

Concert III – Peerless Purcell: Fantasies in Full
Sunday, 11 January 2026, 05.00 p.m, St. Elisabeth – Tickets
Concert IV – William Lawes, Exceptional Eccentric
Sunday, 8 March 2026, 05.00 p.m, St. Elisabeth – Tickets

The concerts take place in the church St Elisabeth, Invalidenstraße 4a, 10115 Berlin.

Phantasm Viol Consort
The multi-award-winning Phantasm Viol Consort was founded by Laurence Dreyfus in 1994 and soon established itself as one of the world’s leading viol ensembles. It has distinguished itself through its excellent technique, rooted in the great traditions of chamber music, as well as through its dramaturgically sophisticated and musically captivating programs.

Laurence Dreyfus, treble viol and director / Emilia Benjamin, treble viol / Jonathan Manson, tenor viol / Heidi Gröger, tenor and treble viols / Markku Luolajan-Mikkola, bass viol
Guests: Ulrich Wolff, bass viol / Lea Rahel Bader, bass viol (11 January 2026) / Martin Jantzen, tenor viol (12 October 2025)

Past concerts
Concert I – The Well-Tempered Consort: Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Friday, 14 March 2025, 6.00 p.m.
Works by Johann Sebastian Bach, transcribed for viol consort
Concert II – Orlando Gibbons, Peerless Polyphonist
Sunday, 12 October 2025, 05.00 p.m, St. Elisabeth
Works by Orlando Gibbons

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