CANTUS QUINTUS
Broken Viol Consort
The musicians of Cantus Quintus are specialists in the historically informed performance of this repertoire, having studied at some of the most well-regarded conservatoires in Europe
In Summer 2026, the group toured six venues across the UK
The enesemble's unusual broken consort setting, being ‘mismatched’ combination of singers and viols, gives wonderful clarity to beautiful madrigals by Orlando Gibbons and his contemporaries.
Biography
The unique sonority of the instrumental-vocal combination is the cornerstone of the musical ethos of consort Cantus Quintus. The members of the ensemble come from diverse musical backgrounds, and are united by a desire to express more than just notes on a page, but to go beyond with the concept of ‘singing with instruments.’
They are highly qualified musicians from institutions including the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the University of Manchester and the Haute École de Musique de Genève, and all members are active in their professional lives with projects and ensembles all over Europe. Based primarily in Amsterdam and London, the musicians of Cantus Quintus are highly regarded in their field for their sensitivity and expressivity.
Their unusual broken consort setting, being a ‘mismatched’ combination of singers and viols, gives wonderful clarity to beautiful music from the 16th and 17th century Britain. Their programme “What is our life?” explores old yet contemporary emotions, through madrigals, for one or two voices and viols, and instrumental pieces, with beautiful music by Byrd, Gibbons, Wilbye, Campion, Jenkins and Purcell.
