Benjamin Errington
Benjamin Errington holding his viola and bow

Recital series · Six concerts

Telemann& Bach

Solo works for viola, performed by Benjamin Errington

Programme

Sunday 18 October 2026

1 pm · St. Stephen’s Green Unitarian Church
112 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2

  1. Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767)

    Fantasia No. 12 in E-flat major

    TWV 40:37

    1. I. Andante
    2. II. Allegro
    3. III. Vivace

  2. Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767)

    Fantasia No. 8 in E minor

    TWV 40:33

    1. I. Allegro
    2. II. Grave
    3. III. Vivace

  3. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

    Suite No. 4 in E-flat major

    BWV 1010

    1. I. Prélude
    2. II. Allemande
    3. III. Courante
    4. IV. Sarabande
    5. V. Bourrée I & II
    6. VI. Gigue

About the series

Two Baroque masters in dialogue

This ongoing recital series explores two monumentally rich collections of Baroque solo string repertoire, brought to life on the modern viola.

At the centre of the project are Georg Philipp Telemann’s Twelve Fantasias for Solo Viola da Gamba (TWV 40:26–37). Published in 1735 and lost to history for nearly 280 years, these masterpiece compositions were dramatically rediscovered in a private German archive in 2015. Perfectly suited to the rich, dark, and expressive register of the modern viola, Telemann’s fantasias combine brilliant counterpoint with Italian operatic lyricism and French elegance.

Across a six-concert cycle, these twelve rediscovered gems are paired with J. S. Bach’s seminal Six Cello Suites, creating a dialogue between two Baroque contemporaries and expanding the expressive horizons of the solo viola.

Telemann

Twelve Fantasias for Solo Viola da Gamba

TWV 40:26–37 · Published 1735 · Rediscovered 2015

Bach

Six Suites for Solo Cello

BWV 1007–1012 · Köthen, c. 1720

The cycle

Six concerts, each pairing two of Telemann’s fantasias with one of Bach’s suites.

  1. NextTelemann Fantasias Nos. 12 & 8 · Bach Suite No. 4
  2. To be announcedTwo fantasias, one suite
  3. To be announcedTwo fantasias, one suite
  4. To be announcedTwo fantasias, one suite
  5. To be announcedTwo fantasias, one suite
  6. To be announcedTwo fantasias, one suite

Watch

Fantasia No. 4 in F major

Telemann’s fantasia for viola da gamba, TWV 40:29, performed on viola.

More performances on YouTube (@celticviolaandfiddle) →

Project Fantasia

Bringing the fantasias into the studio

Project Fantasia is a dedicated crowdfunding effort to produce the world-premiere commercial studio recording of Telemann’s 12 Fantasias for Solo Viola da Gamba on modern viola.

Miraculously rediscovered in 2015, these masterworks represent some of the most vibrant and inventive solo string music of the Baroque era. While these six recitals bring Telemann’s lost gems into direct dialogue with J. S. Bach’s Cello Suites on stage, Project Fantasia provides the critical support needed to bring these works into the studio.

Every contribution directly funds

  1. Hire of a venue with fine acoustics
  2. Specialised sound engineering
  3. Mixing
  4. Commercial album release

Your support expands the modern viola canon and cements a landmark recording for future generations.

Support the recordingvia Buy Me a Coffee
Benjamin Errington standing with his viola and bow

About the artist

Benjamin Errington

Benjamin Errington is a freelance violist who performs regularly with major orchestral ensembles and as a soloist.

With a passion for championing lesser-known, unfairly neglected, and newly rediscovered repertoire, his performances focus on bringing rare musical gems to modern audiences.

Through live recital series, studio recordings, and digital performance archives, he aims to illuminate forgotten cornerstones of string literature and push the artistic possibilities of the viola.

benjaminerrington.comYouTube