Profeti Della Quinta

Focusing on repertoire from the 16th and early 17th centuries, the vocal ensemble Profeti della Quinta aims to create vivid and expressive performances for audiences today. In particular, this is achieved through research into the performance practices of the time including temperament, performing from facsimile editions and improvising according to the traditions of diminution and ornamentation. From its core of five male singers, this a-cappella ensemble also collaborates with instrumentalists and additional singers where required.

Profeti della Quinta have been active in researching and performing hitherto neglected repertoire, such as Emilio de' Cavalieri's Lamentations (1600) and Salomone Rossi's Hashirim asher li'Shlomo (1623), the first publication of polyphony in Hebrew, which they recorded on PAN Classics to critical acclaim. The ensemble performs regularly in various festivals and venues in Europe and Israel, such as the Festival von Vlaanderen (Belgium) and the Oude Muziek Festival in Utrecht (the Netherlands). Profeti della Quinta also collaborated with the Lautten Compagney Berlin, and took part in a documentary about Salomone Rossi, flimed in Mantua. in July 2011 the ensemble won the York Early music young artists competition.

The Ensemble was founded in the Galilee region of Israel by the bass and harpsichordist Elam Rotem. It is currently based in Switzerland, where all its members undertook further study at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The ensemble has benefited both individually and collectively from the expertise of leading musicians, amongst them Evelyn Tubb, Anthony Rooley, Gerd Türk and Dominique Vellard .

CANTUS - Doron Schleifer, David Feldman

ALTUS - Dino Lüthy

TENOR - Dan Dunkelblum

BASSUS - Elam Rotem

Programs

RAPPRESENTATIONE DI GIUSEPPE E I SUOI FRATELLI
Biblical musical drama composed in the spirit of the first Operas by Elam Rotem
Using the musical language and context of the first musical Dramas of Cavalieri, Caccini, and Monteverdi, the piece tells the story of Joseph and his brethern - one of the most touching stories of the old testament. The piece is written in Biblical Hebrew for five voices, instruments, and basso-continuo.

HASHIRIM ASHER LI'SHLOMO and IL MANTOVANO HEBREO
Music by Salomone Rossi (c. 1570 - 1630)
Two programs portraying the Jewish Italian composer by highlighting the variety of his musical output, comprising Italian madrigals and instrumental music as well as unique Hebrew-texted music for the Synagogue.

THE LAMENTATIONS AND RESPONSORIES, 1600
Emilio de' Cavalieri (c.1550-1602)
The expressive setting of the beautiful and dark biblical text of the Lamentations will shock even modern listeners. The work combines the old and new styles: beautiful and complex polyphonic sections alternating with highly expressive monodies and duets.

MIA BENIGNA FORTUNA
The story of the Italian Renaissance Madrigal
The Madrigal was the most prominent genre of secular vocal music in the Renaissance. This program follows its evolvement from the early 16th century Frottole, through the highly expressive polyphony of Cipriano de Rore, to the revolutionary madrigals that shaped the Baroque era.

Recordings

Salomone Rossi: Il Mantovano Hebreo

Cantus - Doron Schleifer, David Feldman; Altus - Dino Lüthy; Tenor - Dan Dunkelblum; Bassus, Cembalo & musical direction - Elam Rotem.

Violin - Katya Polin, Eva Saladin; Theorbo - Ori Harmelin, Ryosuke Sakamoto

The program portrays Salomone Rossi's many-faceted art as a court composer in the service of the Gonzaga family and as a unique innovator of devotional music for the synagogue, by presenting a selection of his Italian madrigals, instrumental pieces, and Hebrew prayers.

To be recorded in July 2012, York, UK, by LINN records and the national center for early music.

Salomone Rossi: 'The Song of Solomon' and instrumental music

Profeti Della Quinta and Ensemble Muscadin

The native Hebrew-speaking ensemble uniquely offers an unmediated grasp of the text and the historically peculiar style of Rossi's Hashirim Asher Lish'lomo (The Songs of Solomon). True to the original context of this music, the vocal works are sung by male soloists, using the original manuscripts.

Cantus - Doron Schleifer, David Feldman; Altus - Eitan Drori; Tenor - David Nortman; Bassus - Elam Rotem.

Recorder - Corina Marti; Josué Meléndez Peláez - cornett & recorder; Leila Schayegh - violin; viola da gamba & violone - Tore Eketorp; theorbo & baroque guitar - Michal Gondko; cembalo & organ - Alena Hönigova

Pan Classics 2009

Concerts

THE LAMENTATIONS AND RESPONSORIES, 1600 - Emilio de' Cavalieri Doron Schleifer, Hanna Järveläinen - Cantus; Dino Lüthy – Altus; Dan Dunkelblum – Tenor; Elam Rotem - Bassus, Cembalo, musical director; Ori Harmelin – Theorbo; Elizabeth Rumsey - Lirone ; Aki Noda – Organ	10.3.2012, 19:30 Kath. Kirche Heilig Kreuz Margarethenstrasse 32, Binnigen, Switzerland
IL MANTOVANO HEBREO Private music by Salomone Rossi (c.1570-c.1630)	21.4.2012, 19.00 Konzerthaus Berlin, Germany
RAPPRESENTATIONE DI GIUSEPPE E I SUOI FRATELLI PREMIERE Biblical musical drama composed in the spirit of the first Operas by Elam Rotem	29.5.2012, 20:15 Predigerskirche, Basel, Switzerland
HASHIRIM ASHER LI'SHLOMO Hebrew music by Salomone Rossi (c.1570-c.1630)	9.6.2012 Grancey le Château, France
IL MANTOVANO HEBREO Private music by Salomone Rossi (c.1570-c.1630), With Ori Harmelin - Theorbo.	6-14.7.2012 York Early Music Festival, UK
IL MANTOVANO HEBREO Private music by Salomone Rossi (c.1570-c.1630), With Ori Harmelin - Theorbo.	24.7.2012 Sastamala Gregoriana Early music festival Sastamala, Finland
MIA BENIGNA FORTUNA The story of the Italian Renaissance Madrigal with Ori Harmelin - Lute.	5.8.2012, 11:00 Merian Park Brüglingen, Basel, Switzerland
MIA BENIGNA FORTUNA The story of the Italian Renaissance Madrigal with Ori Harmelin - Lute.	19.8.2012 Concerts d'été de Saint-Germain Geneve, Switzerland
IL MANTOVANO HEBREO Private music by Salomone Rossi (c.1570-c.1630), With Ori Harmelin - Theorbo.	20.8.2012 Concerts d'été de Saint-Germain Geneve, Switzerland
RAPPRESENTATIONE DI GIUSEPPE E I SUOI FRATELLI Biblical musical drama composed in the spirit of the first Operas by Elam Rotem. With the Jerusalem Baroque orchestra.	20-30.12.2012 Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, Israel

Past Concerts

IL MANTOVANO HEBREO Private music by Salomone Rossi (c.1570-c.1630). With Ori Harmelin - Theorbo.	28.12.2011, 12:15 MIMIKO concert series Elisabethenkirche, Basel, Switzerland
THE LAMENTATIONS AND RESPONSORIES, 1600 - Emilio de' Cavalieri Doron Schleifer, Hanna Järveläinen - Cantus; Dino Lüthy – Altus; Dan Dunkelblum – Tenor; Elam Rotem - Bassus, Cembalo, musical director; Ori Harmelin – Theorbo; Elizabeth Rumsey - Lirone ;Tore Eketorp - Violone ; Aki Noda – Organ	1.10.2011, 20:15 Begijnhofkerk, Turnhout, Belgium Festival van Vlaanderen - Mechelen
FROM ROME TO JERUSALEM Palestrina, Cavalieri, S. Rossi - Christian and Jewish sacred music. With Ori Harmelin - Theorbo, and Aki Noda - Organ	28.8.2011, 22:30 Geertekerk, Utrecht, The Netherlands Festival OudeMuziek
HASHIRIM ASHER LI'SHLOMO Music by Salomone Rossi – Hebrew prayers, Italian madrigals and instrumental music - and his contemporaries. With Ori Harmelin – Theorbo	30.7.2011, 21:00 Palazzo Te, Mantua, Italy
York Early Music International Young Artists Competition 2011 Two open recitals as part of the competition.	14-16.7.2011 St Margaret’s Church, York, UK York Early Music Festival
HASHIRIM ASHER LI'SHLOMO Music by Salomone Rossi – Hebrew prayers, Italian madrigals and instrumental music With the Ensemble Lautten Compagney Berlin	1.7.2011, 21:00 Stadtkirche Wittenberg, Germany Festival Himmel auf Erden
MIA BENIGNA FORTUNA Madrigals and Prayers by Cipriano de Rore and Salomone Rossi	22.6.2011, 12:15 Elisabethenkirche, Elisabethenstrasse 10–14, Basel
THE LAMENTATIONS AND RESPONSORIES, 1600 - Emilio de' Cavalieri Doron Schleifer, Hanna Järveläinen - Cantus; Dino Lüthy – Altus; Dan Dunkelblum – Tenor; Elam Rotem - Bassus, Cembalo, musical director; Ori Harmelin – Theorbo; Elizabeth Rumsey - Lirone ;Tore Eketorp - Violone ; Aki Noda – Organ	20.4.2011, 20:00 Predigerkirche, Totentanz 19, Basel recorded by radio DRS II
MIA BENIGNA FORTUNA Madrigals and motets by Cipriano de Rore and Adrian Willaert, and Madrigals set for the Lute With Ori Harmelin – Lute	25.2.2011 , 19:30 Mathäuskirche, Feldbergstrasse 81, Basel

Audio/Video samples

Clips from the York Early music young artists competition:
[taped on July 2011]

Hebrew prayers by Salomone Rossi (c. 1570 - 1630), "Hashirim asher leShlomo" (1623):
[taken from "The Songs of Solomon and instrumental music", Pan Classics 2009]

- Lamnatseah 'al Haggittit - psalm 8 (a 5)
- Yitgadal veyitkadash - full Kaddish (a 5)

THE LAMENTATIONS AND RESPONSORIES, ca.1600 - Emilio de' Cavalieri (c.1550-1602):
[recorded live for DRS2, 20/4/2011, Basel]

Reviews

- Early music review 143, August 2011 – Andrew Bensos-Wilson
"They exhibited an outstanding consort blend, with beautifully pure vocal tone and intonation... They made excellent use of diminutions, weaving them into the overall fabric. Although all the singers were excellent, the two outer voices of countertenor Doron Schleifer and bass Elam Rotem made particularly significant contributions to the stunning sound of the group."

- musolife.com, 18/7/2011 - Profeti Della Quinta named York Early Music competition winners
"'Profeti Della Quinta's stunning authentic performance practice and quality of execution was truly magnificent,' commented Philip Hobbs, chairman of the judges and chief classical producer with Linn Records."

- Toccata alte music actuel, H.44 2009 - Robert Strobl
CD of the month! "Die fünf Quint-Propheten bestechen in ihrer Vokalausführung. Die zwei Countertenöre, zwei Tenöre und der Bass und Ensemblechef Elam Rotem verblüffen mit einer blitzsauberen und hochmusikalischen Darbietung, der man absoluten Respekt zollen muss!" [click here to see the full review]

- Klassik-heute.com, 29/9/09 - Gerhard Pätzig
"Hohe Erwartungen erfüllt auch die fünfköpfige, männliche Vokalgruppe Profeti della Quinta, deren zwei Countertenöre brillant die Sopran- und Altlage zu den Mittel- und Fundamentstimmen abrunden. Auch die Farbmischung mit den gelegentlich hinzutretenden Instrumenten erreicht vorbildliche Verschmelzungsgrade an vibratofreier Gesamtklang-Reinheit und Kultur." [click here to see the full review]

- Vespers1610.com, 22/10/09 - Craig Zeichner
"The performances by Profeti della Quinta are revelations. Here’s the precision and tonal beauty that this music deserves and it makes this CD the essential Rossi recording to add to your collection. I only hope Profeti Della Quinta go on to record more Rossi." [click here to see the full review]. Also - under best of 2009: "It’s about time an ensemble finally made a truly excellent recording of Rossi’s sacred music. "

- Jerusalem Post, 4/3/09 - Pamela Hickman
"The renditions by the Profeti della Quinta, an Israeli group consisting of two counter tenors, two tenors and a bass, were a pure delight. Intonation was exceptionally pure, and pronunciation was clear and more intelligible than that of many local vocal ensembles. The articulation was well-shaped and the accentuations were placed pointedly, though subtly."

Please contact us at contact@quintaprofeti.com