The Gesualdo Six is a highly acclaimed British vocal consort. They comprise some of the UK’s finest consort singers, and the ensemble is known for its impeccable standard of performance. They perform widely across the UK and internationally. The group performs a broad-ranging repertoire, from the music of the medieval period through to contemporary compositions.
Directed by Owain Park, the Gesualdo Six was founded in Cambridge for a performance of the Tenebrae responsories for Maundy Thursday, by Carlo Gesualdo, in the chapel of Trinity College in 2014.
Experience a captivating tapestry of litanies, madrigals and Lamentations, showcasing some of the extraordinary writing of two of the Renaissance’s most famous composers. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594) was one of the most highly acclaimed musicians of the sixteenth century, and wrote a tremendous number of musical works, refining the musical style of the time. His compositions, characterised by a sense of elegance and balance, reflect his steadfast adherence to traditional melodic and harmonic conventions.
In contrast, the writing of notorious composer, Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613) is well known for its extreme style, with chromatic melodies creating dissonant and disjointed harmonic progressions that illuminate the most melancholy aspects of the dark texts he set.
In this programme, The Gesualdo Six explore some of the most beautiful and evocative writing from these two famous composers, featuring sacred works such as the ‘Gloria’ from Missa Papae Marcelli, settings of the Tenebrae Responsories, and profoundly moving motets, Super flumina Babylonis and Peccantem me quotidie. The artistry of both composers also finds expression in the intricate interplay of secular and sacred madrigals, weaving narratives both poignant and jubilant.
