Percussionist

Artistic Director

There are a thousand ways to write love and a thousand ways to live it. French-Italian mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre and renowned lutenist Thomas Dunford remind us of this by bringing together these works dedicated to love by Italian composers of the 17th century. The dialogue among pieces by Monteverdi, Merula, Kapsberger, and Frescobaldi highlights the richness and complexity of the sentiment. If love songs today have other finery, Lettera amorosa sighs that the motives and messages remain similar.

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Lea Desandre, mezzo & Thomas Dunford, lute

American Philosophical Society

Vocalist Lea Desandre is a major rising star, and “one of today’s most exciting voices in early-music performance” (The New York Times). For this special recital, she teams up with lutenist Thomas Dunford, hailed as the “Eric Clapton of the lute” (BBC Magazine). Carnegie Hall audiences will recognize them both from a breathtaking 2022 performance with the Jupiter ensemble. The chance to witness their debut duo recital in our most intimate venue is not to be missed.

Lea Desandre, Mezzo-Soprano Thomas Dunford, Lute

Carnegie Hall

It is safe to say that you have never heard Vivaldi quite like this — reincarnated through the exuberant virtuosity of the young members of the Jupiter Ensemble. Led by “the Eric Clapton of the lute” (BBC Music Magazine) alongside a rising mezzo-soprano who “brings life and beauty to everything she touches” (The New York Times), the group boldly reimagines what an early music ensemble can be as they guide us through the vibrant landscape of Antonio Vivaldi’s baroque innovations. From exhilarating vocal works that dazzle through their stunningly beautiful finesse to fiery concertos for strings that make much of the western canon sound tame in comparison, the program promises to shatter all preconceptions of Vivaldi’s music and reacquaint you with this timeless composer in a completely new light.Woolworth Center, Room 301
Princeton, NJ 08544

Jupiter Ensemble

Richardson Auditorium

It is safe to say that you have never heard Vivaldi quite like this — reincarnated through the exuberant virtuosity of the young members of the Jupiter Ensemble. Led by “the Eric Clapton of the lute” (BBC Music Magazine) alongside a rising mezzo-soprano who “brings life and beauty to everything she touches” (The New York Times), the group boldly reimagines what an early music ensemble can be as they guide us through the vibrant landscape of Antonio Vivaldi’s baroque innovations. From exhilarating vocal works that dazzle through their stunningly beautiful finesse to fiery concertos for strings that make much of the western canon sound tame in comparison, the program promises to shatter all preconceptions of Vivaldi’s music and reacquaint you with this timeless composer in a completely new light.

Jupiter Ensemble: All-Vivaldi

The Jupiter Ensemble is the brainchild of the young lutenist and artistic director Thomas Dunford, who, in 2018, invited musicians and soloists he had met during his many years of touring the world to join him in a new early music ensemble. Together, the Jupiter Ensemble is keeping period practice alive – and every musician in the line-up is a soloist in their own regard.

In Durham, they present a portrait of Vivaldi, a staple composer of the Baroque period and one they spent time with in 2019, when they released a multi-award-winning dedicated Vivaldi recording on Alpha Classics. Lute concertos with Thomas Dunford will form the backbone of their US tour program, accompanied by a cello concerto led by Bruno Philippe, one of France’s most promising young soloists. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the next generation of early music specialists in action.

First Presbyterian Church

"[Artistic Director] Thomas Dunford has gathered together a team of some of the finest musicians of his generation… Brace yourselves for some exquisitely dizzy spells at the hand of Jupiter.” —Érik Orsenna, French politician and novelist

Passionate, timeless, virtuosic. The Jupiter Ensemble, with mezzo soprano Lea Desandre, presents a recital celebrating iconic baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi. Highlighting his lesser known—but no less spectacular—works, this program features lush arrangements for voice and sparkling concertos for lute and cello in a tribute to Vivaldi’s enduring vitality.

Jupiter Ensemble with Lea Desandre

University of Colorado Boulder

Théotime Langlois de Swarte and Thomas Dunford, new stars of the baroque music scene and brilliant successors to William Christie, delve into the roots of English melancholy by imagining the journey of a "Mad Lover," a violinist who roams the streets of London and the British courts alongside a lutenist. Their path crosses that of the greatest baroque musicians of the time, the Purcell brothers, the Eccles brothers, the Matteis father and son, whose tender and languorous works resonate with their sentimental reveries. The spontaneity, almost improvised nature of the two performers, without pretense or affectation, infuses their approach with irresistible freshness.

The Mad Lover

Salle Philharmonique de Liège

Grammy-winning countertenor Iestyn Davies and "Eric Clapton of the lute" Thomas Dunford (BBC Magazine) unite for an intimate evening of music for solo voice and lute. In their acclaimed recital, A Musical Banquet, the two friends present some of the greatest hits of the 17th century, featuring the music of Dowland, Holborne, Guédron, Caccini and more.

Thomas Dunford

Percussionist, Artistic Director

Events

Nov 3, 2023

Lea Desandre, mezzo & Thomas Dunford, lute · Philadelphia Chamber Music Society

Nov 2, 2023

Lea Desandre, Mezzo-Soprano Thomas Dunford, Lute · Carnegie Hall

Mar 30, 2023

Jupiter Ensemble · Princeton University Concerts

Mar 30, 2023

Jupiter Ensemble: All-Vivaldi · Princeton University Music Department

Mar 28, 2023

Jupiter Ensemble · Duke Performances

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