ELIZABETHAN music brought to life by a North-East lutenist is being sold at one of the country’s leading art galleries.

The CD features Robin Thodey, from Durham City, playing the lute, a guitar-like instrument popular in Elizabethan times.

Ms Thodey’s Queen Elizabeth’s Galliard album is on sale at London’s National Portrait Gallery, which houses world-famous portraits of the Queen Elizabeth I and her household.

The CD features 16th Century dances written by John Dowlands.

Ms Thodey, who has played the lute at Westminster Abbey and New York’s Carnegie Hall, said: “The lute was the instrument of the Elizabethan age and Dowland’s music portrays the court exquisitely, so it’s fitting the music should be with the paintings.”

“However, the CDs are only on sale there through chance. I had an appointment with a publisher in London and thought I would visit the Tudor gallery at the National Portrait Gallery while I was there.

“I left my CD for the buyer to listen to and she got back to me saying they loved the music and wanted to sell them.”

The CD is also available online at robinthodey.co.uk