The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
Tempesta di Mare
Jan Dismas Zelenka’s Lamentations for Holy Week
2009 Grantee
$45,000
Tempesta di Mare received $45,000 to perform Jan Dismas Zelenka’s Lamentationes pro hebdomana sancta for ATB soli and chamber ensemble at Old St. Joseph’s Church and the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, both in Philadelphia. The Lamentationes emerge as through-composed solo cantatas, set in aria, arioso, and recitative structures, along with extensive, florid melismas that mark the Hebrew letters for Latin verses. The performance, which will feature guest artists alto Lorie Gratis; tenor Aaron Sheehan; and baritone Sumner Thompson, will be recorded for subsequent broadcast on local, national, and overseas radio.
Tempesta di Mare performs Baroque music on Baroque instruments with repertoire that ranges from opera with full orchestra to chamber music. The ensemble was founded in 1996, and its debut CD of recorder sonatas by Veracini, released that year on PGM, received BBC Music Magazine’s highest marks. Tempesta’s Greater Philadelphia Concert Series has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence since its launch in 2002. Tempesta has toured from Oregon to Prague. National broadcasts of performances include NPR’s Performance Today, Sunday Baroque, and Harmonia. Concerts are carried locally on WHYY-91FM’s Showcase and video of recent performances can be seen on WYBE Public Television. WHYY-TV12 has also produced three short documentaries about the group. www.tempestadimare.org
Tempesta di Mare Quintet, photo by Bill Cramer