Evoking a contemplative atmosphere with music inspired by the ancient service of compline.

Since the fourth century, the service of Compline has marked the end of the day, ushering in the darkness of the night. Much of the music here is inspired by this ancient service, evoking a contemplative atmosphere, including renaissance polyphony by Lobo, Sheppard and Gesualdo that contains startling harmonic shifts and expressive word painting. Then there is a turning point; the light returns, birds sing, and flowers bloom once more, with contemporary reflections by Veljo Tormis, Joanna Marsh, and Gerda Blok-Wilson.

“Their sound seemed to float in mid-air before reaching the ears of the rapt audience… every line, every gorgeous texture was radiantly clear.”- The Times

The Gesualdo Six is an award-winning British vocal ensemble comprising some of the UK’s finest consort singers, directed by Owain Park. Praised for their imaginative programming and impeccable blend, the group formed in 2014 for a performance of Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories in Cambridge and has gone on to perform at numerous major festivals around the world.

Owain Park was born in Bristol in 1993. As well as directing The Gesualdo Six, Owain is Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers (Chief Conductor beginning in autumn 2026), and maintains a busy schedule of conducting projects with ensembles including Southbank Sinfonia, Ensemble la Sportelle and Cappella Cracoviensis.