The Cantate Choir performed with the Sweelinck Ensemble during its Renaissance Revealed concert, a concert of Italian Renaissance music and images in March 2005.

Sweelinck Ensemble, performing with Cantate Choir in their Renaissance Revealed concert in March 2005
The Sweelinck Ensemble aims to recreate the vibrant musical life of the seventeenth century through performing music of the highest quality, with a particular emphasis on German and Italian repertoire. To facilitate the many various types of music in this period the group is flexible, using voices and instruments of all types according to the area of repertoire performed.

Founded by Martin Knizia the ensemble was a finalist in the 1999 York Early Music Network Competition. It has since appeared at major venues such as St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James’ Piccadilly, the Brompton Oratory, and as a regular performer at the London Bach Festival. The ensemble broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and throughout Europe on Euroclassic Notturno.

For Renaissance Revealed the ensemble will play with the Cantate Choir, and also in various combinations alone. They will perform music from the early seventeenth century by Giovanni Battista, Dario Castello, and Giovanni Picchi. For this concert the group comprises two violins, cornet and trombones, chiterone and organ.

The Sweelinck Ensemble’s first CD, the First Book of Sonatas by Dario Castello, is due to be released in spring 2005.