Amazone
Lutenist Thomas Dunford returns to EMSI’s stage, leading Jupiter Ensemble, acclaimed as one of the finest in a new generation of early music ensembles. Soprano Lea Desandres, “one of today’s most exciting voices in early-music performance” – New York Times, is featured in a program on the theme of the Amazons, a myth that is very present in Baroque music. “Amazone” is a hymn to nature, a story of the heart and the poetic, universal and timeless message of a sentimental and emotional journey.
Thomas Dunford describes the inception of Jupiter:
“With Jupiter, I wanted to bring together a collective of exceptional musicians from the new generation, whom I have met through collaborations with numerous ensembles. Each artist invited to join this project is brilliant in the mastery of his or her instrument, and some are already renowned as soloists. The great freedom that each of them has been able to acquire over the course of their projects, and the choice of research and a shared understanding of the music, will enable them to render the different repertoires tackled with passion, strength and emotion.
Early music has undergone a great period of rediscovery, thanks to pioneers such as William Christie, Philippe Herreweghe and Jordi Savall, with whom I have had the good fortune to work. It is now our responsibility, as a generation that has grown up with this music, to continue to bring it to life while at the same time making it more modern, showing just how accessible it can be and how much it can touch people’s hearts.
Listening, improvisation, energy and a shared global vision will be the key. All our past experiences, as well as our collective work within Jupiter, will enable us to acquire this great freedom that will make the music extremely lively and, I hope, touching.”
Amazone will include music by Vivaldi, Marais, Couperin, Cavalli, Philidor, Destouches and more.
“Thomas Dunford 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.”
– Erik Orsenna, author
Watch a spine-tingling performance of Vivaldi’s Juditha Triumphans:
