Celestiall Witchcraft - The Private Music of Henry and Charles Princes of Wales

2026 brings a wealth of anniversaries celebrating the golden age of English Renaissance music. As we mark the 450th anniversary of Thomas Weelkes’s birth on October 25th, we also commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Coprario’s death (exact date unknown). 

Weelkes was first and foremost a master madrigalist, as famous for his rhythmic and harmonic daring as he was infamous for his proverbial drunkenness. 

Born John Cooper, Coprario adopted his Italianate pseudonym out of a fondness for all things Italian; he left behind a magnificent body of works for viol consort where his contrapuntal genius shines, as well as a select collection of vocal laments dedicated to the prominent figures of his day. 

The brilliance of these two masters, alongside contemporaries from the rich Elizabethan tradition (Gibbons, Hume, Lupo…), is showcased across two exquisite albums: the first presents a vibrant anthology joining Thomas Binkley’s Studio der frühen Musik with the Concentus Musicus Wien (featuring Nikolaus Harnoncourt himself on viola da gamba) alongside stellar guests such as tenor Nigel Rogers. The second, performed by the acclaimed ensemble Fretwork, is largely dedicated to early 17th-century consort music, complemented by tenor Mark Padmore and Nigel North on the lute.